The functions of 把 bǎ 3

Posted on by tiffany

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Grammar · HSK 5
Grammar Point · HSK 5

把 bǎ — 把 Sentence 3

Two structures that bend the usual 把 bǎ rules a little:one borrowed from “as soon as,” and one where the verb takes two objects at once.

Both are common in everyday speech, even though they look a bit different from the patterns you’ve seen so far.

The functions of 把 bǎ

The object still goes right after 把 bǎ in both structures below — what’s different this time is what comes after the verb.

1 Structure

(1) Subject + 把 bǎ + Object + 一 yī + Verb

This comes from the 一…，就… yī…，jiù… “as soon as” structure — the verb happens, and something else follows immediately.

他tā把bǎ东西dōngxi一放yífàng，转身zhuǎnshēn就jiù走了zǒule
As soon as he put his things down, he turned around and left.
老师lǎoshī把bǎ门mén一关yìguān，就jiù开始kāishǐ上课了shàngkèle
As soon as the teacher closed the door, the class began.
她tā把bǎ灯dēng一开yìkāi，蟑螂zhāngláng全quán跑掉了pǎodiàole
As soon as she turned on the light, the cockroaches all scurried away.
我wǒ把bǎ碗wǎn一放yífàng，手机shǒujī就jiù响了xiǎngle
As soon as I put down the bowl, my phone rang.

(2) Subject + 把 bǎ + Object 1 + Verb + Object 2

The verb here takes a second object right after it — Object 1 is what’s being used, Object 2 is what it becomes or where it goes. This structure is less common in Taiwan speech.

他tā把bǎ身上的shēnshangde学费xuéfèi交给了jiāogěile老师lǎoshī
He handed the tuition money he had on him to the teacher.
我wǒ把bǎ奖金jiǎngjīn捐给juāngěi慈善císhàn机构jīgòu
I donated my bonus to a charity organization.
他tā把bǎ文件wénjiàn发给了fāgěile老板lǎobǎn
He sent the documents to the boss.
他tā把bǎ一生yìshēng都dōu献给了xiàngěile工作gōngzuò
He devoted his whole life to work.
Also Worth Knowing

把 bǎ can also pair with 成 chéng to mean “turn Object 1 into Object 2” — S+把 bǎ+O1+V+成 chéng+O2, used for real transformations, abstract framing, and even mistaken perception (mishearing or misreading something). That variant is covered in Other 把 Sentence, alongside the 看 kàn/瞧 qiáo+把 bǎ structure.

2 Practice

Translate each English sentence into a 把 bǎ sentence, then tap the card to check your answer.

01As soon as he pressed the button, the machine started.
他tā把bǎ按钮ànniǔ一按yíàn，机器jīqì就jiù开始kāishǐ运作了yùnzuòle
As soon as he pressed the button, the machine started.
👆 Tap to reveal
02As soon as she opened the box, everyone cheered.
她tā把bǎ盒子hézi一打开yìdǎkāi，大家dàjiā就jiù欢呼huānhū了le
As soon as she opened the box, everyone cheered.
👆 Tap to reveal
03He gave his allowance to his little sister.
他tā把bǎ零用钱língyòngqián给了gěile妹妹mèimei
He gave his allowance to his little sister.
👆 Tap to reveal
04As soon as the dog barked, the cat ran away.
狗gǒu把bǎ嘴zuǐ一张yìzhāng，猫māo就jiù跑走了pǎozǒule
As soon as the dog opened its mouth (to bark), the cat ran away.
👆 Tap to reveal
05She donated her old clothes to the shelter.
她tā把bǎ旧jiù衣服yīfu捐给了juāngěile收容所shōuróngsuǒ
She donated her old clothes to the shelter.
👆 Tap to reveal
06As soon as I saw the price, I gave up.
我wǒ把bǎ价钱jiàqián一看yíkàn，就jiù放弃了fàngqìle
As soon as I saw the price, I gave up.
👆 Tap to reveal
07She plans to introduce her boyfriend to her parents.
她tā打算dǎsuàn把bǎ男朋友nánpéngyou介绍给jièshàogěi父母fùmǔ
She plans to introduce her boyfriend to her parents.
👆 Tap to reveal
08As soon as she raised her hand, everyone quieted down.
她tā把bǎ手shǒu一举yìjǔ，大家dàjiā就jiù安静ānjìng下来了xiàláile
As soon as she raised her hand, everyone quieted down.
👆 Tap to reveal
09They gave their old furniture to the neighbors.
他们tāmen把bǎ旧jiù家具jiājù给了gěile邻居línjū
They gave their old furniture to the neighbors.
👆 Tap to reveal
10As soon as the professor asked a question, the room went silent.
教授jiàoshòu把bǎ问题wèntí一问yíwèn，全场quánchǎng就jiù安静了ānjìngle
As soon as the professor asked a question, the room went silent.
👆 Tap to reveal

Related Grammar

→To see all 把 bǎ structure

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