Difference between revisions of "Softening speech with "ba""

Line 66: Line 66:
  
 
[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
{{Basic Grammar|吧|A2|⋯吧。|这样 不 太 好 <em>吧</em>。|grammar point|ASGJIP2E}}
+
{{Basic Grammar|吧|A2|⋯吧。|这样 不 太 好 <em>吧</em>。|grammar point|ASGZI1AC}}
 
{{Similar|Suggestions with ba}}
 
{{Similar|Suggestions with ba}}
 
{{Similar|Conceding with "ba"}}
 
{{Similar|Conceding with "ba"}}

Revision as of 08:50, 16 October 2013

The particle 吧 (ba) can be used to soften the feel of a sentence. This could be to make it more polite, gentler and less forceful, or to turn a command into a suggestion.

Structure

The structure of this grammar point is pretty simple:

Subject + Verb + Object + 吧

Examples

  • 这样 不 太 好 This style isn't that great.
  • 算了 Just forget it.
  • 应该 是 It should be. [referring to some context]

Note that to make suggestions for a group of people including oneself, 咱们 is often used with 吧.

Other uses

When 吧 is used twice in a sentence, it is used to list two options that the speaker is debating. It gives the sentence an indecisive feel, as though the speaker doesn't know which one to choose. This construction often has a negative connotation, since the options usually are not ideal.

Option 1 + 吧 , Evaluation ; Option 2 + 吧 , Evaluation

If this structure doesn't seem clear to you, the examples will help.

Examples

  • 这 件 衣服,买 ,太 贵;不 买 ,又 很 喜欢。As for these clothes, buying them is too expensive, but I really like them, so if I don't...
  • 上班,很 累;不 上班,又 无聊。Going to work? Too tiring. Not going to work? There's nothing to do.
  • 这 件 事情,你 同意 ,对 你 没 好处;不 同意 ,别人 又 不 高兴。As for this, if you agree, it doesn't help you. If you don't, other people won't be happy.
  • 早 点 去,需要 等;晚 点 ,担心 迟到。Going early, we'll have to wait. But going late, I'm worried we might be tardy.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books