Moving an Object with 把 bǎ
把 bǎ can’t be translated into English, which is why many learners avoid it. But native speakers use it all the time! It moves a known object to the front, so the verb can come at the end and tell you what happened to that object: where it went, who got it, or how it changed.
一 What Is 把 For?
Normal Chinese word order is Subject + Verb + Object. With 把 bǎ, it becomes Subject + 把 bǎ + Object + Verb + something. Moving the object forward turns “an object” into “the object,” and leaves room after the verb to explain the result.
We usually use 把 bǎ to express:
- Determination (often with “I”): I’m going to do something to it.
- A command (often with “you”): instructions, moving things, decorating…
- An action that changes a known object: the most common use.
1. The object must be something both speakers know (this / that / my…).
2. No feeling verbs: love, like, hate, miss, feel…
3. The verb always needs something after it.
4. Negatives and adverbs go before 把 bǎ.
That “something” can be a result complement (完, 开, 得…), a directional complement (进去, 出来…), a quantity complement (一次, 十遍…), the special verbs 在 · 到 · 给 · 成, or a short-time form (V了V, V一V, V一下). In this lesson we focus on four of them.
二 把 + O + V + 在 / 到 + Place
Use this to say where the object ends up. 在 zài focuses on the object being in a place (common verbs: 放 fàng put, 挂 guà hang, 收 shōu put away). 到 dào usually involves a movement to get it there.
三 把 + O + V + 给 + Person
Use this for handing something over to someone. Common verbs: 送 sòng give, 拿 ná take, 递 dì pass, 卖 mài sell, 借 jiè lend, 还 huán return, 介绍 jièshào introduce, 寄 jì mail.
四 把 + O + V + Result Complement
The complement after the verb shows the result: finished, opened, cleaned…
五 把 + O + V + Directional Complement
A directional complement shows which direction the object moves: off, out, down…
六 Common Mistakes
❌ 我把咖啡喝在咖啡店
✅ 我在咖啡店喝咖啡
Drinking the coffee doesn’t make the coffee end up in the café. Use 在 zài + place before the verb.
❌ 請请你把一杯水拿給给我
✅ 請请你把那杯水拿給给我
“A glass of water” isn’t something both speakers know. Use “that,” “my,” or something similar.
❌ 我把他愛爱了
✅ 我愛爱他
Feelings can’t be used with 把 bǎ.
❌ 哥哥把筆笔不放在桌上
✅ 哥哥不把筆笔放在桌上
All negatives and adverbs go before 把 bǎ.
七 Practice
Tap the words below in the right order to build the sentence, then check your answer. If it’s wrong, you can try again as many times as you like, or hit “Show answer” if you get stuck. Careful: some tiles are traps and are not needed!
“Put the keys on the table.”
❌ Try Again
Starting with 你 nǐ is also correct.
A command: 把 bǎ + object + V + 在 + place.
“I gave the book to my sister.”
❌ Try Again
Putting 了 right after 送给 is also correct.
Handing it over → V + 给 + person.
“Who ate my cake?”
❌ Try Again
The verb needs something after it, so 吃 chī alone is a trap. 🍰
“Please close the door.”
❌ Try Again
关 guān alone has nothing after it, so it’s not enough.
“Take the trash out.”
❌ Try Again
Starting with 你 nǐ is also correct.
V + directional complement.
“I finished my homework.”
❌ Try Again
V + result complement 完 wán.
“Don’t put your phone on the bed.”
❌ Try Again
不要 búyào goes before 把 bǎ.
“He mailed the package to Japan.”
❌ Try Again
Leaving out 了 is also correct.
A movement to a place → V + 到 dào.
“I love him very much.”
❌ Try Again
Feelings can’t use 把 bǎ, so it’s a trap. ❤️
“Please pass me that cup of coffee.”
❌ Try Again
The object must be known: “that cup,” not “a cup.”
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