Difference between revisions of "Using "ba" sentences"

Latest revision as of 02:55, 31 December 2021

Level

B1 / HSK3
Level

B1
Level

HSK3
Similar to
- Advanced uses of "ba" (B2)
- Using "jiang" as a formal "ba" (B2)
Similar to
- Advanced uses of "ba" (HSK5)
- Using "jiang" as a formal "ba" (HSK5)
Used for

Expressing passive voice
Keywords

把

Also known as: 把字句 ("bǎ"zìjù), 把 construction, preposition 把, disposal construction and pre-transitive 把.

The 把 (bǎ) sentence is a useful structure for constructing longer sentences which focus on the result or influence of an action. One of its key features is that it brings the object of the verb closer to the front of the sentence and precedes it with a 把. It's really common in Mandarin but can feel a bit awkward at first for English speakers.

1 What is a 把 sentence?
2 Key Things to Keep in Mind When Using 把
3 把 Sentences with Two Objects
4 把 Sentences with Complements
5 Forming 把 Sentences
6 QUIZ TIME!
- 6.1 Ready to Check Your Mastery of 把?
7 Verbs for 把 Sentences
8 Other Uses of 把
9 See also
10 Sources and further reading
- 10.1 Books
- 10.2 Websites

What is a 把 sentence?

A basic sentence in Mandarin is formed with a subject-verb-object (SVO) word order, as in English:

Subj. + [Verb Phrase] + Obj.

A 把 sentence shakes things up a bit, and you get this structure:

Subj. + 把 + Obj. + [Verb Phrase]

Note that the object has moved, and is preceded by 把. You now have SOV word order.

This is all well and good, but most students of Chinese, on learning about 把 sentences for the first time, have the same reaction: "Why the heck would I ever use this structure? The SVO word order always works just fine, right?" The answer is: well, no... not always. It's true that 把 sentences are often used to achieve somewhat subtle differences in emphasis, but there are also very good reasons to use 把 sentences when a regular sentence just won't do. Take this sentence for example:

把书放在桌子上。Bǎ shū fàng zài zhuōzi shàng.Put the book on the table.

How would you say this without the 把 construction? You might try this:

放书在桌子上。Fàng shū zài zhuōzi shàng.

The problem is that the above Chinese sentence is not grammatical. You can't put an object right after a verb, and then put other modifiers of the verb after the object. Here are other examples of how to successfully use 把 and 放 in the same sentence.

她把 我的手机 放在她的包里了。Tā bǎ wǒ de shǒujī fàng zài tā de bāo lǐ le.She put my cell phone in her bag.
他把 脏衣服 放在床下面了。Tā bǎ zāng yīfu fàng zài chuáng xiàmiàn le.He put his dirty laundry under the bed.
你是不是把护照放在行李箱里了？Nǐ shì bu shì bǎ hùzhào fàng zài xínglixiāng lǐ le?Did you put your passport in your suitcase?

For each of these, the sentence would be ungrammatical if you tried to do away with the 把 and put the object right after the verb.

Key Things to Keep in Mind When Using 把

The object should be known. So it has already been mentioned or discussed previously.
把字句 are most often used to describe what happened to the object in some detail. The verb is not just "bare"; there's "more stuff" after it. Often the "stuff" is related to some kind of manipulation of the object.
把字句 are not tied to any particular time. You can use them when talking about events in the past, or for making a request.

把 Sentences with Two Objects

The usual structure for 把 sentences, as described above, puts the object right after 把. For certain verbs, however, you can have two objects in a 把 sentence. Their use in a 把 sentence will also involve prepositions.

They use the following structure:

Subj. + 把 + Obj. 1 + Verb + 给 + Obj. 2

Common verbs that take two objects include: 送 (sòng), 拿 (ná), 递 (dì), 卖 (mài), 借 (jiè), 还 (huán), 介绍 (jièshào).

Some examples:
Subject	把	Object 1	Verb	Preposition	Object 2
我们	把	礼物	送	给	客人	了	。
	把	盐	递	给	我		。
他	把	房子	卖	给	谁	了	？
我	把	他	介绍	给	我老板	了	。

把 Sentences with Complements

Because 把 sentences are all about "doing stuff" to the object, and complements in Mandarin often handle this issue, it's good to be aware of how these two grammar features interact.

Result complements work particularly well in 把 sentences. When you consider that both structures deal with the result or outcome of an action, this makes sense. The majority of result complements (except for perception verbs) fit in very well in a 把 construction. For example:

我把作业做完了。Wǒ bǎ zuòyè zuò wán le.I finished doing my homework.
老师把我的名字读错了。Lǎoshī bǎ wǒ de míngzì dú cuò le.The teacher read my name wrong.

Direction complements also work well in 把 constructions, for similar reasons. For example:

请把客人带进去。Qǐng bǎ kèrén dài jìnqù.Please take the guests inside.
把我的眼镜拿过来。Bǎ wǒ de yǎnjìng ná guòlái.Please bring my glasses over here.

Note that potential complements do not appear in 把 sentences. This is because they are hypothetical, whereas a 把 sentence must describe what actually happens.

Forming 把 Sentences

Since the basic structure has already been given above, we can jump right into some more exciting patterns!

Negating 把 Sentences

To negate a 把 sentence, insert 不要 or 别 (present or future) or 没有 (past) directly in front of 把. You can't put it after 把, 'inside' the 把 construction, as this would break the rule about describing what actually happened to the object. It would be like saying "What happened to... was nothing." It doesn't sound natural.

A few examples:
Subject	Negative	把	Object	Verb Phrase
阿姨	没有	把	房间	打扫干净	。
我	没	把	钱	借给他	。
你们	不要	把	这件事	告诉她	。

Question Forms of 把 Sentences

You can make 把 sentences into questions in the usual three ways to form questions in Mandarin:

With a question particle
With a question word
With positive-negative verbs

Some examples:

你们把 那个问题 解决了吗？Nǐmen bǎ nàge wèntí jiějué le ma?Did you solve that problem?
你把 我手机 放在哪儿了？Nǐ bǎ wǒ shǒujī fàng zài nǎr le?Where did you put my cell phone?
他把钱借给谁了？Tā bǎ qián jiè gěi shéi le?Who did he lend the money to?
你能不能把 你房间 打扫干净？Nǐ néng bu néng bǎ nǐ fángjiān dǎsǎo gānjìng?Can you clean your room or not?

Be careful how you form questions with 把 sentences though. Remember that you have to have a definite object, and you have to describe what was done to that object. A question form could easily get in the way of one of these conditions.

Adverbs in 把 Sentences

Adverbs can usually be placed before 把 or before the verb (the exception is negative adverbs, as described above). Adverbs in each of these positions can change the meaning in slightly different ways, as demonstrated with 都 in the examples below.

Some examples:
Subj.	Adv.	把	Object	Adv.	Verb Phrase
我们	都	把	作业		做完了	。
他		把	咖啡	都	喝完了	。
他	已经	把	钱		还给我了	。
我	可能	把	手机		忘在朋友家了	。

In the first sentence, 都 modifies 我们 to express "we all finished the homework." In the second sentence, 都 modifies 咖啡 to express "he finished all the coffee".

把 Sentences and Quantity Phrases

As mentioned above, the object of a 把 sentence must be something specific and definite. This might involve noun measure words, which will come after the 把 and before the object.

Some examples:
Subject	把	Quantity Phrase	Noun	Verb Phrase
我	把	那两件	脏衣服	洗干净了	。
他	把	最后三块	蛋糕	吃完了	。
你	把	这几句	话	读一下	。

Verb measure words are frequently used in 把 sentences and come at the end of a 把 sentence.

Some examples:
Subject	把	Object	Verb	Quantity Phrase
	把	课文	读	一遍	。
她	把	这个字	写了	十遍	。
他	把	手机	摔坏过	两三次	。

Note that in all of these sentences, the object is something specific and definite.

QUIZ TIME!

Ready to Check Your Mastery of 把?

If you're pretty clear on the explanations you've read so far and the examples make sense to you, you still need to put your knowledge to the test.

Take the 把 Quiz!

Verbs for 把 Sentences

Some verbs generally can't indicate what happened to the object. They only describe what the subject did. Below are some examples of verbs that do not generally work in 把 sentences.

Psychological verbs: 爱 (ài) "to love," 喜欢 (xǐhuan) "to like," 想 (xiǎng) "to miss," 了解 (liǎojiě) "to know well," 害怕 (hàipà) "to fear," 恨 (hèn ) "to hate."

Perception verbs: 看 (kàn) "to look at," 听 (tīng) "to listen to," 闻 (wén) "to smell," 像 (xiàng) "to resemble."

Other Uses of 把

It's important to note that 把 is a word with other uses. The most common is as a measure word for things with handles, or things that you hold. Examples include 一把伞 ("an umbrella"), 一把枪 ("a gun"), and 一把椅子 ("a chair"). So, you've got to look at how 把 is being used in a sentence before you can understand its meaning.

To demonstrate the difference, here's a sentence with both kinds of 把:

请你把那把伞拿给我。Qǐng nǐ bǎ nà bǎ sǎn ná gěi wǒ.Please give me that umbrella.

Sources and further reading

Books

HSK Standard Course 3 (pp. 93, 101, 119) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
A Practical Chinese Grammar For Foreigners (外国人实用汉语语法) (pp. 461-70) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar (pp. 53-4) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (pp. 159-64) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
Chinese Grammar Without Tears (简明汉语语法学习手册) (pp. 167-81) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
Common Chinese Patterns 330 (汉语常用格式330例) (pp. 3-5) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed) (pp. 142-4) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2 (pp. 225-7, 321-3) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
Mandarin Chinese: A Functional Reference Grammar (pp. 463-92) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 354-5) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2) (pp. 41-2, 88) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3) (pp. 15, 51, 101-2) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课下册） (pp. 369-70, 384, 398-9) [ →buy]

Websites

Mandarin Essential Grammar (Yale): 把 Construction
CTCFL (Oxford): The 把 Construction
ChinesePod: Qing Wen - The Magic Word 把 (free podcast content)
ChinesePod: Qing Wen - 把 Humbug (free podcast content)
FluentU: The Definite Guide to the Chinese Ba Construction
Mandarin Online: 把字句
Just Learn Chinese (blog): Lesson 10 How to understand and use Chinese sentence pattern “…把…”?

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{Grammar Box}}
-{{AKA|把字句|把 construction|disposal construction|preposition 把|pre-transitive 把}}
+{{AKA|把字句 ("bǎ"zìjù)|把 construction|preposition 把|disposal construction|pre-transitive 把}}
-The '''把 (bǎ) sentence''' is a useful structure for focusing on the result or influence of an action. It's really common in Mandarin, but can feel a bit strange for English speakers at first.
+The 把 (bǎ) sentence is a useful structure for constructing longer sentences which focus on the result or influence of an action. One of its key features is that it brings the object of the verb closer to the front of the sentence and precedes it with a 把. It's really common in Mandarin but can feel a bit awkward at first for English speakers.
 == What is a 把 sentence? ==
-A 把 sentence (把字句 in Chinese) is a sentence in which the object of the sentence (the noun that is having some action done to it) appears after the subject and before the verb, preceded with a 把.
+A basic sentence in Mandarin is formed with a subject-verb-object (SVO) [[word order]], as in English:
-Remember, a basic sentence in Mandarin is formed with a subject-verb-object (SVO) [[word order]], as in English:
 <div class="jiegou">
+Subj. + [Verb Phrase] + Obj.
-Subject + Verb Phrase + Object
 </div>
@@ Line 20: / Line 16: @@
 <div class="jiegou">
+Subj. + 把 + Obj. + [Verb Phrase]
-Subject + <strong>把 + Object</strong> + Verb Phrase
 </div>
-Note that the '''object has moved''', and is preceded by 把.  You now have SOV word order.
+Note that the '''object has moved''', and is preceded by 把. You now have SOV word order.
-This is all well and good, but most students of Chinese, on learning about 把 sentences for the first time, have the same reaction: ''"Why the hell would I ever use this structure?  The SVO word order always works just fine, right?"''  The answer is: well, no... not always.  It's true that 把 sentences are often used to achieve somewhat subtle differences in emphasis, but there are also very good reasons to use 把 sentences when a regular sentence just won't do.  Take this sentence for example:
+This is all well and good, but most students of Chinese, on learning about 把 sentences for the first time, have the same reaction: ''"Why the heck would I ever use this structure?  The SVO word order always works just fine, right?"'' The answer is: well, no... not always.  It's true that 把 sentences are often used to achieve somewhat subtle differences in emphasis, but there are also very good reasons to use 把 sentences when a regular sentence just won't do. Take this sentence for example:
 <div class="liju">
+*<em>把</em> <strong>书</strong> 放 <strong>在</strong> 桌子 <strong>上</strong> 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Bǎ</em> <strong>shū</strong> fàng <strong>zài</strong> zhuōzi <strong>shàng</strong>.</span><span class="trans">Put the book on the table.</span>
-* 你 <em>把</em> <strong>书</strong> 放 在 桌子 上 。 <span class="expl">("Put the book on the table.")</span>
 </div>
-How would you say this without the 把 construction?  You might try this:
+How would you say this without the 把 construction? You might try this:
 <div class="liju">
 <ul>
-<li class="x"> 你 放 <strong>书</strong> 在 桌子 上 。</li>
+<li class="x">放 <strong>书</strong> 在 桌子 <strong>上</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Fàng <strong>shū</strong> <strong>zài</strong> zhuōzi <strong>shàng</strong>.</span></li>
 </ul>
-The only problem is that the above sentence is not grammatical.  You can't put an object right after a verb, and then put other modifiers of the verb after the object.  Below, we'll go into more detail about when and how to use 把 sentences.
+The problem is that the above Chinese sentence is not grammatical. ''You can't put an object right after a verb, and then put other modifiers of the verb after the object.'' Here are other examples of how to successfully use 把 and 放 in the same sentence.
-</div>
+*她 <em>把</em> <strong>我 的 手机</strong> 放 <strong>在</strong> 她 的 包 <strong>里</strong> 了 。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>bǎ</em> <strong>wǒ de shǒujī</strong> fàng <strong>zài</strong> tā de bāo <strong>lǐ</strong> le.</span><span class="trans">She put my cell phone in her bag.</span>
+*他 <em>把</em> <strong>脏 衣服</strong> 放 <strong>在</strong> 床 <strong>下面</strong> 了 。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>bǎ</em> <strong>zāng yīfu</strong> fàng <strong>zài</strong> chuáng <strong>xiàmiàn</strong> le.</span><span class="trans">He put his dirty laundry under the bed.</span>
-== When to use a 把 sentence ==
+*你 是 不 是 <em>把</em> <strong>护照</strong> 放 <strong>在</strong> 行李箱 <strong>里</strong> 了 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ shì bu shì <em>bǎ</em> <strong>hùzhào</strong>  fàng <strong>zài</strong> xínglixiāng <strong>lǐ</strong> le?</span><span class="trans">Did you put your passport in your suitcase?</span>
-The conditions for using a 把 sentence were briefly mentioned above. These are:
-* The object is '''known'''.  (It's already been mentioned or discussed previously.)
-* The sentence describes '''what happened to''' the object in some detail (it's not just a "bare" verb; there's "more stuff" after the verb).
-=== Known object ===
-把 sentences can only deal with objects that are previously known about or have been clearly established in context. In other words, 把 sentences should have objects that are ''obvious''.
-This means that the object must either be ''definite'' (often preceded by 'the' in English), or ''generic''. A generic object is a general class of things that the listener should know about. For example:
-<div class="liju">
-* 我 有时候 <em>把</em> 茶 当 咖啡 喝。<span class="trans">Sometimes I drink tea instead of coffee.</span>
 </div>
-Here 茶 and 咖啡 do not refer to any particular cups of tea or coffee, but to these drinks in general. This is acceptable because as general classes of things (''generic objects''), these are known and understood by the listener.
+For each of these, the sentence would be ungrammatical if you tried to do away with the 把 and put the object right after the verb.
-=== Disposal (what happened to the object) ===
+== Key Things to Keep in Mind When Using 把 ==
-The other requirement for a 把 sentence is that it described what happened to the object, or its end fate as far as the sentence is concerned. This rules out any actions that don't have a clear effect on the object, such as [[psychological verbs]]. For example, you generally can't use 把 sentences to describe emotions or perceptions. Something has to be ''done to'' the object, and not just ''done by'' the subject.
+* The object should be known. So it has already been mentioned or discussed previously.
+* 把字句 are most often used to describe what happened to the object in some detail. The verb is not just "bare"; there's "more stuff" after it. Often the "stuff" is related to some kind of manipulation of the object.
+* 把字句 are not tied to any particular time. You can use them when talking about events in the past, or for making a request.
-Some examples:
+== 把 Sentences with Two Objects ==
-<div class="liju">
+The usual structure for 把 sentences, as described above, puts the object right after 把. For certain verbs, however, you can have two objects in a 把 sentence. Their use in a 把 sentence will also involve [[prepositions]].
-<ul>
+They use the following structure:
-<li class="x">我 把 他 <strong>想念</strong>。</li>
-<li class="x">他 把 他 妹妹 <strong>爱</strong>。</li>
-<li class="x">你 把 我的 东西 <strong>看见</strong> 了 吗？</li>
-</ul>
+<div class="jiegou">
+Subj. + 把 + Obj. 1 + Verb + 给 + Obj. 2
 </div>
-None of these are acceptable 把 sentences because the object is not directly changed or affected by the verb. There is no disposal. So far so good. But it can get a bit trickier. The object does not have to be physically affected in the real world for a 把 sentence to be acceptable. For example, a 把 sentence could be used to describe something being written down:
+Common verbs that take two objects include: 送 (sòng), 拿 (ná), 递 (dì), 卖 (mài), 借 (jiè), 还 (huán), 介绍 (jièshào).
 <div class="liju">
+{| class="wikitable" style="width:38em"
-* 我 <em>把</em> <strong>我的 姓名</strong> 写 下来 了。<span class="trans">I wrote my last name down.</span>
+|+Some examples:
+|-
+! Subject !! 把 !! <em>Object 1</em> !! Verb !! Preposition !! <em>Object 2</em> !! !!
+|-
+| 我们 || 把 || <em>礼物</em>  || 送 || 给 || <em>客人</em> || 了 || 。
+|-
+|&nbsp;|| 把 ||<em>盐</em> || 递 || 给 || <em>我</em> ||&nbsp;|| 。
+|-
+| 他 || 把 ||  <em>房子</em> || 卖 || 给 || <em>谁</em> ||了 || ？
+|-
+| 我 || 把 ||  <em>他</em> || 介绍 || 给 || <em>我 老板</em> ||了 || 。
+|}
 </div>
-Here the name hasn't been physically affected, but it has been converted into written form so its disposal is still described. Another example:
+== 把 Sentences with Complements ==
-<div class="liju">
+Because 把 sentences are all about "doing stuff" to the object, and [[complements]] in Mandarin often handle this issue, it's good to be aware of how these two grammar features interact.
-* 我 <em>把</em> <strong>那 件 事</strong> 说 出来 了。<span class="trans">I talked about that thing.</span>
+[[Result complement]]s work particularly well in 把 sentences. When you consider that both structures deal with the result or outcome of an action, this makes sense. The majority of result complements (except for perception verbs) fit in very well in a 把 construction. For example:
-</div>
-Again, the 'something' in this sentence can't be 'changed' or 'affected' by being spoken about, but it is a change of form so a 把 sentence can be used. Even real world objects that do physically exist do not need to be physically affected to appear in a 把 sentence:
 <div class="liju">
-* 她 <em>把</em> <strong>家里</strong> 收拾 得 很 干净。 <span class="trans">He cleaned the inside of the house very well.</span>
+*我 <em>把</em> 作业 做 <strong>完</strong> 了 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>bǎ</em> zuòyè zuò <strong>wán</strong> le.</span><span class="trans">I finished doing my homework.</span>
+*老师 <em>把</em> 我 的 名字 读 <strong>错</strong> 了 。<span class="pinyin">Lǎoshī <em>bǎ</em> wǒ de míngzì dú <strong>cuò</strong> le.</span><span class="trans">The teacher read my name wrong.</span>
 </div>
-These three disposals are all different types of interactions with an object, but each is a disposal.
+[[Direction complement]]s also work well in 把 constructions, for similar reasons. For example:
-== How to form a 把 sentence ==
-=== Basic 把 sentences ===
-A basic sentence in Mandarin is formed with a subject-verb-object (SVO) [[word order]], as in English:
 <div class="liju">
-* 猫 吃 掉 了 金鱼。<span class="trans">The dog ate the goldfish</span>
+*请 <em>把</em> 客人 带 <strong>进去</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Qǐng <em>bǎ</em> kèrén dài <strong>jìnqù</strong>.</span><span class="trans">Please take the guests inside.</span>
+*<em>把</em> 我 的 眼镜 拿 <strong>过来</strong> 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Bǎ</em> wǒ de yǎnjìng ná <strong>guòlái</strong>.</span><span class="trans">Please bring my glasses over here.</span>
 </div>
-A 把 sentence shakes things up a bit, and you get this structure:
+Note that [[potential complement]]s do not appear in 把 sentences. This is because they are hypothetical, whereas a 把 sentence must describe what actually happens.
-<div class="jiegou">
-Subject + 把 + Object + Verb Phrase
-</div>
-So you now have SOV word order:
-<div class="liju">
-* 猫 <em>把</em> 金鱼 吃 掉 了。<span class="trans">The dog ate the goldfish.</span>
-</div>
-You might notice that the character 掉 occurs after the verb in these two sentences.  This is no accident!  This is because 把 sentences are used for describing in some detail ''what happened to'' the object. In other words, ''the verb alone is not enough''; there always has to be something else after the verb.
-<div class="jiegou">
-Subject + 把 + Object + Verb + ''Something else''
-</div>
-This is often described as the ''disposal'' of the object, which might sound a bit fancy but we'll use it for convenience here. As well as the verb, you need to provide more information related to the action (in this case, that it was completed). In the example above 掉 indicates this 'disposal'.
-The idea of disposal will be covered in more detail below. For now, just remember that a 把 sentence must describe what happened to the object in the end (beyond just what the verb tells you by itself). One way of thinking about the pattern which may be useful is that using 把 is similar to saying "What I did with ... was ... " or "What happened to ... was ...."
-==== More examples ====
-<div class="liju">
-{| class="wikitable"
+== Forming 把 Sentences ==
-|+Basic 把 sentences
-|-
-! Subject !! <em>把</em> !! Object !! Verb !! <em>Disposal</em> !!
-|-
-| 你 || <em>把</em> || 那 本 书 || 放 || <em>在 桌子 上</em> || 。
-|-
-| 我 || <em>把</em> || 作业 || 做 || <em>好 了</em> || 。
-|-
-| 他 || <em>把</em> || 我的 钱包 || 偷 || <em>走 了</em> || 。
-|-
-| 她 || <em>把</em> || 我的车 || 修 || <em>好 了</em> || 。
-|-
-| 您 || <em>把</em> || 您的 名字 || 写 || <em>下来</em> || 。
-|}
-</div>
-Another important rule for using 把 sentences is that they have to be about something specific or definite. The object has to be something that is clear in the context, and known to both speaker and listener.
+Since the basic structure has already been given above, we can jump right into some more exciting patterns!
-=== Negating 把 sentences ===
+=== Negating 把 Sentences ===
-To negate a 把 sentence, insert 不 (present or future) or 没有 (past) directly in front of 把. You can't put it after 把, 'inside' the 把 construction, as this would break the rule about describing what happened to the object. It would be like saying "What happened to ... was nothing". It doesn't sound natural.
+To negate a 把 sentence, insert 不要 or 别 (present or future) or 没有 (past) directly in front of 把. You can't put it after 把, 'inside' the 把 construction, as this would break the rule about describing what actually happened to the object. It would be like saying "What happened to... was nothing." It doesn't sound natural.
 <div class="liju">
 {| class="wikitable" style="width:38em"
-|+Negating 把 sentences
+|+A few examples:
 |-
-! Subject !! <em>Negative</em> !! 把 !! Object !! Verb !! Disposal !!
+! Subject !! <em>Negative</em> !! 把 !! Object !! Verb Phrase !!
 |-
-| 我 || <em>没有</em> || 把 || 你的 电脑 || 弄 || 坏 || 。
+| 阿姨 || <em>没有</em> || 把 || 房间 || 打扫 干净 || 。
 |-
-| 你 || <em>不要</em> || 把 || 我的 啤酒 || 喝 || 完 || 。
+| 我 || <em>没</em> || 把 || 钱 || 借给 他 || 。
 |-
-| 他 || <em>没</em> || 把 || 钥匙 || 弄 || 丢 || 。
+| 你们|| <em>不要</em> || 把 || 这 件 事 || 告诉 她 || 。
-|-
-| 她 || <em>没有</em> || 把 || 她的 房间 || 收拾 || 干净 || 。
-|-
-| 我 || <em>不</em> 会 || 把 || 这 件 事 || 告诉 || 她的 || 。
 |}
 </div>
-=== Question forms of 把 sentences ===
+=== Question Forms of 把 Sentences ===
 You can make 把 sentences into questions in the usual three ways to form questions in Mandarin:
@@ Line 208: / Line 137: @@
 <div class="liju">
-* 你 <em>把</em> 你的 手机 弄 丢 了 吗？<span class="trans">Did you lose your phone?</span>
+*你们 <em>把</em> <strong>那个 问题</strong> 解决 了 吗 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen <em>bǎ</em> <strong>nàge wèntí</strong> jiějué le ma?</span><span class="trans">Did you solve that problem?</span>
-* 你 可以 <em>把</em> 五 个 汉堡 吃完 吗？<span class="trans">Can you eat five hamburgers?</span>
+*你 <em>把</em> <strong>我 手机</strong> 放 在哪儿 了 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>bǎ</em> <strong>wǒ shǒujī</strong> fàng zài nǎr le?</span><span class="trans">Where did you put my cell phone?</span>
+*他 <em>把</em> <strong>钱</strong> 借 给 谁 了 ？<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>bǎ</em> <strong>qián</strong> jiè gěi shéi le?</span><span class="trans">Who did he lend the money to?</span>
-* 你 <em>把</em> 我的 东西 放 在 哪里 了？<span class="trans">Where did you put my stuff?</span>
+*你 能不能 <em>把</em> <strong>你 房间</strong> 打扫 干净 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ néng bu néng <em>bǎ</em> <strong>nǐ fángjiān</strong> dǎsǎo gānjìng?</span><span class="trans">Can you clean your room or not?</span>
-* 他 <em>把</em> 你的 自行车 卖 给 谁 了？<span class="trans">Who did you sell your bike to?</span>
-* 你 是 不是 <em>把</em> 牙膏 用完 了？<span class="trans">Did you finish the toothpaste?</span>
-* 你 能 不能 <em>把</em> 我 写 的 文章 翻译 成 英文？<span class="trans">Can you translate the essay I wrote into English?</span>
 </div>
-Be careful how you form questions with 把 sentences though. Remember that you have to have a definite object, and you have to describe the disposal of that object. A question form could easily get in the way of one of these conditions.
+Be careful how you form questions with 把 sentences though. Remember that you have to have a definite object, and you have to describe what was done to that object. A question form could easily get in the way of one of these conditions.
-=== Adverbs in 把 sentences ===
+=== Adverbs in 把 Sentences ===
-Adverbs can usually be placed before 把 or before the verb (the exception is negative adverbs, as described above). Adverbs in each of these positions can change the meaning in slightly different ways, as demonstrated with 都 in the examples below. In the first sentence, "我们都把作业做完了", 都 modifies "我们" to make "We all finished the homework." In the second sentence, 都 modifies 作业 to make "We finished all the homework."
+Adverbs can usually be placed before 把 or before the verb (the exception is negative adverbs, as described above). Adverbs in each of these positions can change the meaning in slightly different ways, as demonstrated with 都 in the examples below.
 <div class="liju">
 {| class="wikitable" style="width:43em"
-|+把 sentences with adverbs
+|+Some examples:
 |-
-! Subject !! <em>Adverb</em> !! 把 !! Object !! <em>Adverb</em> !! Verb !! Disposal !!
+! Subj. !! Adv. !! <em>把</em> !! Object !! Adv. !! Verb Phrase !! &nbsp;
 |-
-| 我们 || <em>都</em> || 把 || 作业 || <em></em> || 做 || 完了 || 。
+| 我们 || <strong>都</strong> || <em>把</em> || 作业 || &nbsp; || 做 完 了 || 。
 |-
-| 我们 || <em></em> || 把 || 作业 || <em>都</em> || 做 || 完了 || 。
+| 他 || &nbsp; || <em>把</em> || 咖啡 || <strong>都</strong> || 喝 完 了 || 。
 |-
-| 他 || <em>不小心</em> || 把 || 我的 秘密 || <em></em> || 告诉 || 别人 了 || 。
+| 他 || <strong>已经</strong> || 把 || 钱 || &nbsp; || 还给 我 了 ||  。
 |-
-| 她 || <em></em> || 把 || 茶 || <em>全</em> || 喝 || 完了 || 。
+| 我 || <strong>可能</strong> || 把 || 手机 || &nbsp; || 忘 在 朋友 家 了 || 。
 |}
 </div>
-(Note the subtle difference in meaning between the first two sentences.)
-=== 把 Sentences and Measure Words ===
+In the first sentence, 都 modifies 我们 to express "we all finished the homework." In the second sentence, 都 modifies 咖啡 to express "he finished all the coffee".
+=== 把 Sentences and Quantity Phrases ===
-As mentioned above, the object of a 把 sentence must be something specific and definite.  This might involve noun [[measure word]]s, which will come after the 把 and before the object.
+As mentioned above, the object of a 把 sentence must be something specific and definite. This might involve noun [[measure word]]s, which will come after the 把 and before the object.
 <div class="liju">
 {| class="wikitable" style="width:38em"
-|+More 把 and quantity examples
+|+Some examples:
 |-
-! Subject !! 把 !! <em>Measure Word</em> !! Object !! Verb !!
+! Subject !! 把 !! <em>Quantity Phrase</em> !! Noun !! Verb Phrase !!
 |-
-| 我 || 把 || <em>那 件</em> || 衣服 || 洗了 ||  。
+| 我 || 把 || 那 <em>两 件</em> || 脏 衣服 || 洗 干净 了 ||  。
 |-
-| 他 || 把 || <em>几 块</em> || 蛋糕 || 吃 掉 了 || 。
+| 他 || 把 || 最后 <em>三 块</em> || 蛋糕 ||  吃 完 了 || 。
 |-
-| 她 || 把 || <em>五 篇</em> || 课文 || 翻译 好 了 || 。
+| 你 || 把 || 这 <em>几 句</em> || 话 || 读 一下 || 。
 |}
 </div>
-[[Verb measure words]] are frequently used in 把 sentences, and come at the end of a 把 sentence.
+[[Verb measure words]] are frequently used in 把 sentences and come at the end of a 把 sentence.
 <div class="liju">
 {| class="wikitable" style="width:38em"
-|+More 把 and quantity examples
+|+Some examples:
-|-
-! Subject !! 把 !! Object !! Verb !! <em>Measure Word</em> !!
-|-
-| 我 || 把 || 衣服 || 洗 了 || <em>三 遍</em> || 。
-|-
-| 你 || 把 || 这些 规则 || 看 || <em>两 回</em> || 。
-|-
-| 她 || 把 || 老公 || 打 了 || <em>一 顿</em> || 。
-|}
-</div>
-Note that in all of these sentences, the object is something specific and definite. For example, the third sentence can not be translated as "I ate half ''a'' cake." It has to be "I ate half of ''the'' cake."
-=== 把 Sentences with Two Objects ===
-The usual structure for 把 sentences, as described above, puts the object right after 把. for certain verbs, however, you can have two objects in a 把 sentence. Their use in a 把 sentence will also involve [[prepositions]].
-They use the following structure:
-<div class="jiegou">
-Subject + 把 + Object 1 + Verb + Preposition + Object 2
-</div>
-Common verbs that take two objects include: 买, 卖, 告诉, 介绍, 送, 还 (huán), 通知.
-<div class="liju">
-{| class="wikitable" style="width:38em"
-|+把 sentences with two objects
 |-
-! Subject !! 把 !! Object 1 !! Verb !! Preposition !! <em>Object 2</em> !! !!
+! Subject !! 把 !! Object !! Verb !!<em>Quantity Phrase</em> !! &nbsp;
 |-
-| 我 || 把 || 我 女朋友 || 介绍 || 给 || <em>父母</em> || 了 || 。
+| &nbsp;|| 把 || 课文 || 读 || <em>一 遍</em> || 。
 |-
-| 她 || 把 || 日记 || 卖 || 给 || <em>他</em> || 了 || 。
+| 她 || 把 || 这个 字 || 写 了 || <em>十 遍</em> || 。
 |-
-| 他 || 把 || 这家花店 || 送 || 给 了 || <em>他 女朋友</em> ||  || 。
+| 他 || 把 || 手机 || 摔坏 过 || <em>两 三 次</em> || 。
-|}
-</div>
-=== 把 sentences and aspect particles ===
-The particles 了 and 着 can both be used with 把 constructions, whilst 过 cannot. This is because the object of a 把 construction must be obvious, or 'present' in some way in the context. 过 indicates some kind of action in the past, which suggests that the object is no longer present in the context, so it's not suitable for a 把 construction.
-了 and 着, though, can be used to indicate that the disposal of the object is complete or ongoing, respectively.
-<div class="liju">
-{| class="wikitable" style="width:42em"
-|+把 sentences and aspect particles
-|-
-! Subject !! 把 !! Object !! Verb phrase !! <em>Aspect particle</em> !!
-|-
-| 我 || 把 || 那 本 书 || 翻译 成 英文 || <em>了</em> || 。
-|-
-| 你 || （不要） 把 || 门 || 开 || <em>着</em> || 。
-|-
-| 她 || 把 || 瓶子 || 打 破 || <em>了</em> || 。
-|-
-| 他 || 把 || 那 件 衣服 || 带 || <em>着</em> || 。
 |}
 </div>
+Note that in all of these sentences, the object is something specific and definite.
-== Verbs for 把 sentences ==
+== QUIZ TIME! ==
-You might have noticed by now that some types of verbs are more suitable for 把 sentences than others. This comes back to the issue of disposal, as described in the section above. Because of this, there are some verbs that work really well in 把 sentences, or even sound unnatural without this structure. Here are some examples:
-* 放 - putting an object in a place is a perfect action for a 把 sentence. 放 pretty much ''has'' to be in a 把 construction.
-* 买 and 卖. Sentences about buying and selling also prefer a 把 structure.
-* 当 and 成. Taking one thing to be another or converting something into something else is best expressed with a 把 sentence.
-A related point is that the verb (or verb phrase) in a 把 sentence must clearly indicate the result. This prevents single character verbs from being used alone in 把 sentences. They have to be combined with some sort of [[Result complement|result]] to form a compound. Common options are 下, 到, 掉.
+<h3 class="quiz">Ready to Check Your Mastery of 把?</h3>
+<div class="quiz">
-Because result complements and 把 sentences are both about the end results of actions, they appear together very frequently. If you're using one, in most cases you can be pretty sure that it will go nicely with the other.
+If you're pretty clear on the explanations you've read so far and the examples make sense to you, you still need to put your knowledge to the test.
-On the other hand, some verbs generally can't indicate what happened ''to'' the object. They only describe what the subject did. Here are some examples of verbs that do not generally work in 把 sentences:
+<div class="quiz-link">[https://quizzes.allsetlearning.com/q/grammar-ba3-01/ Take the 把 Quiz!]</div>
-* Psychological verbs
-** 爱
-** 喜欢
-** 想念
-** 了解
-** 害怕
-** 痛恨
-* Perception verbs
-** 看
-** 听
-** 闻
-** 像
-== 把 sentences and complements ==
-Because 把 sentences are all about disposal, and [[complements]] in Mandarin often handle this issue, it's good to be aware of how these two grammar features interact.
-[[Result complement]]s work particularly well in 把 sentences. When you consider that both structures deal with the result or outcome of an action, this makes sense. The majority of result complements (except for perception verbs) fit in very well in a 把 construction. A couple of examples:
-<div class="liju">
-* 我 <em>把</em> 我的 作业 做完 了。<span class="trans">I finished doing my work.</span>
-* 你 <em>把</em> 这 个 汉字 写错 了。<span class="trans">You wrote this character wrong.</span>
 </div>
-[[Direction complement]]s also work well in 把 constructions, for similar reasons. For example:
+== Verbs for 把 Sentences ==
-<div class="liju">
-* 请 <em>把</em> 这 些 东西 拿 起来。<span class="trans">Please take this stuff out.</span>
+Some verbs generally can't indicate what happened ''to'' the object. They only describe what the subject did. Below are some examples of verbs that do not generally work in 把 sentences.
-* 我 <em>把</em> 他 推 出去 了。<span class="trans">I pushed him out.</span>
-</div>
+[[Psychological verb]]s: 爱 (ài) "to love," 喜欢 (xǐhuan) "to like," 想  (xiǎng) "to miss," 了解 (liǎojiě) "to know well," 害怕 (hàipà) "to fear," 恨 (hèn ) "to hate."
-Note that [[potential complement]]s do not appear in 把 sentences. This is because they are hypothetical, whereas a 把 sentence must describe what actually happens.
+[[Perception verb]]s: 看 (kàn) "to look at," 听 (tīng) "to listen to," 闻 (wén) "to smell," 像 (xiàng) "to resemble."
-== Other uses of 把 ==
+== Other Uses of 把 ==
-It's important to note that 把 has other uses. The most common is as a [[measure word]] for things with handles, or things that you hold. Examples include ''一把椅子'', ''一把枪'' and ''一把扇子''. So, you've got to look at how 把 is being used in a sentence before you can understand its meaning.
+It's important to note that 把 is a word with other uses. The most common is as a [[measure word]] for things with handles, or things that you hold. Examples include 一把伞 ("an umbrella"), 一把枪 ("a gun"), and 一把椅子 ("a chair"). So, you've got to look at how 把 is being used in a sentence before you can understand its meaning.
-To demonstrate the difference, here's a sentence with both kinds of 把 in:
+To demonstrate the difference, here's a sentence with both kinds of 把:
 <div class="liju">
+*请 你 <em>把</em> 那 <strong>把</strong> 伞 拿 给 我 。<span class="pinyin">Qǐng nǐ <em>bǎ</em> nà <strong>bǎ</strong> sǎn ná gěi wǒ.</span><span class="trans">Please give me that umbrella.</span>
-* 请 你 <em>把</em> 那 把 椅子 交给 我。<span class="trans">Please give me the chair.</span>
 </div>
 ==See also==
 *[[Result complement]]
 *[[Direction complement]]
@@ Line 408: / Line 248: @@
 === Books ===
-* [[A Practical Chinese Grammar For Foreigners (外国人实用汉语语法) ]] (pp. 461-70) [http://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B001J0ADWA&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B001J0ADWA →buy]
+{{Source|HSK Standard Course 3|93, 101, 119}}
-* [[Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar]] (pp. 53-4) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1933330899/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=1933330899 →buy]
+{{Source|A Practical Chinese Grammar For Foreigners (外国人实用汉语语法) |461-70}}
-* [[Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition]] (pp. 159-64) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415372615/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0415372615 →buy]
+{{Source|Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar|53-4}}
-* [[Chinese Grammar Without Tears (简明汉语语法学习手册)]] (pp. 167-81) [http://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B0041UGAJU&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B0041UGAJU →buy]
+{{Source|Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition|159-64}}
-* [[Common Chinese Patterns 330 (汉语常用格式330例)]] (pp. 3-5) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7802006473/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=7802006473 →buy]
+{{Source|Chinese Grammar Without Tears (简明汉语语法学习手册)|167-81}}
-* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 142-4) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276709/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276709 →buy]
+{{Source|Common Chinese Patterns 330 (汉语常用格式330例)|3-5}}
-* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2]] (pp. 225-7, 321-3) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276881/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0887276881 →buy]
+{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed)|142-4}}
-* [[Mandarin Chinese: A Functional Reference Grammar]] (pp. 463-92) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0520066103?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0520066103 →buy]
+{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2|225-7, 321-3}}
-* [[Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide]] (pp. 354-5) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415700108?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0415700108 →buy]
+{{Source|Mandarin Chinese: A Functional Reference Grammar|463-92}}
-* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2) ]] (pp. 41-2, 88) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561911297/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561911297 →buy]
+{{Source|Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide|354-5}}
-* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3) ]] (pp. 15, 51, 101-2) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/756191251X/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=756191251X →buy]
+{{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2) |41-2, 88}}
-*[[40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课下册）]] (pp. 369-70, 384, 398-9)[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001FTL8D8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001FTL8D8&linkCode=as2&tag=allset-20 →buy]
+{{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3) |15, 51, 101-2}}
+{{Source|40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课下册）|369-70, 384, 398-9}}
 === Websites ===
@@ Line 427: / Line 268: @@
 * ChinesePod: [http://chinesepod.com/lessons/the-magic-word-%E6%8A%8A Qing Wen - The Magic Word 把] (free podcast content)
 * ChinesePod: [http://chinesepod.com/lessons/%E6%8A%8A-humbug Qing Wen - 把 Humbug] (free podcast content)
+* FluentU: [http://www.fluentu.com/chinese/blog/2015/04/01/mandarin-chinese-ba/ The Definite Guide to the Chinese Ba Construction]
 * Mandarin Online: [http://xmmandarinonline.com/2010/10/grammar-the-ba3-sentence/ 把字句]
 * Just Learn Chinese (blog): [http://justlearnchinese.com/lesson-10-how-to-understand-and-use-pattern-%E2%80%9C-%E6%8A%8A-%E2%80%9D-in-chinese/ Lesson 10 How to understand and use Chinese sentence pattern “…把…”?]
@@ Line 433: / Line 275: @@
 [[Category:Prepositions]]
 [[Category:Particles]]
-{{Rel char|把}}
+{{HSK|HSK3}}
+{{Basic Grammar|把|B1|Subj. + 把 + Obj.+ Verb Phrase|我 <em>把 书</em> 看 完 了。|grammar point|ASG2UB2B}}
 {{Similar|Aspect particles}}
 {{Similar|Bei sentence}}
-{{Similar|Direction complement}}
+{{Similar|Expressing future with "jiang"}}
-{{Basic Grammar|把|B1|把 + N + V……|我 <em>把</em> 书 看 完 了。|grammar point|ASG2UB2B}}
+{{Similar|Using "jiang" as a formal "ba"}}
+{{Used for|Expressing passive voice}}
 {{Structure|Sentence Patterns}}
-{{Used for|Expressing passive voice}}
-{{Used for|Sentence Patterns}}