Grammar Point:
There are 3 functions of 把 bǎ in Chinese. Determination, command, and doing a movement on something that makes a change to it. And since 把 bǎ cannot be translated into English, many English speakers feel awkward using it. But it is a piece of grammar that Chinese native speakers use a lot in daily conversation. So if you used to be confused about how to use it, just forget everything you have learned before. Let’s start it again with me!
Difference between with 把 and without 把
The short answer is to emphasize the object. Unlike in English, in Chinese, the most important information is usually provided at the beginning of a sentence. Therefore, we tend to place time and people at the beginning. But what if we want to emphasize a particular object that is very important? Easy! Just move it to the beginning. This will change “an object” to “the object.” Then, we can keep the verb at the end of the sentence, which makes it easy to add more explanations or further information to support it. And these explanations and information are called complements.
When Do We Use It
Action that produces a change in something: This is the most common sentence pattern. We use it when referring to something that has happened to a ‘known object,’ similar to how English uses ‘the’ for a known object.
Before We Start
- It is only used for something that both the listener and the speaker know.
- We cannot use it for feelings: love, feel, hate, like, loss, etc.
- It always needs something after the verb.
- All negation words and adverbs should be put in front of 把 bǎ.
Structure
First, you need to know about 把 bǎ, which changes the order of Chinese sentences. We have learned Chinese sentence’s structure is subject + verb + object, but with this 把 bǎ, it becomes subject + 把 bǎ + object + verb + something. (That something is necessary and very important in the 把 bǎ structure.)
S + 把 bǎ + O + Verb + 了 (Result Complements)
我把蛋糕吃了我把蛋糕吃了
I ate the cake.
他把書丟了他把书丢了
He threw away the book.
你別把我的頭髮剪了你别把我的头发剪了
Don’t cut my hair.
出去玩前,你應該把你的作業寫了出去玩前,你应该把你的作业写了
Before going out to play, you should finish your homework.
你把藥吃了嗎? 你把药吃了吗?
Did you take your medicine?
誰把我的信打開了?谁把我的信打开了?
Who opened my letter?
Differences
誰吃了蛋糕?谁吃了蛋糕?
Who ate cakes?
(This is a straightforward question that focuses on who did the action. The cake itself isn’t emphasized; instead, the main point is identifying who ate it. It’s more about finding out who has already eaten the cake, without paying much attention to the result.)
誰把蛋糕吃了?谁把蛋糕吃了?
Who ate the cake (up)?
(This sentence uses the “把 bǎ” construction, which emphasizes the impact on the object—in this case, the cake. It suggests the cake was completely eaten or dealt with. The focus is more on the result of the action rather than just identifying who did it. It’s more likely asking why the cake is missing—who ate it. The “把 bǎ” structure highlights the outcome (the cake being eaten), implying it’s gone, and you’re asking who’s responsible.)
A:你吃了什麼?你吃了什么?(What did you eat?)
B:我吃了蛋糕我吃了蛋糕 (I ate cake).
In this conversation, the focus is on what you ate. The question is general, asking for information about the food, and the answer simply states what was eaten, without emphasizing the result of the action on the cake.
A:蛋糕呢?蛋糕呢?(Where’s the cake?)
B:我把蛋糕吃了我把蛋糕吃了 (I ate the cake).
Here, the focus shifts to the cake itself. The question implies that something has happened to the cake (it might be missing). The use of the “把 bǎ” construction in the response emphasizes that the cake has been eaten entirely or dealt with in some way, explaining its absence or the result of the action.