Using "ba" sentences
The 把 sentence, called 把字句 in Chinese, 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 to begin with.
Forming a 把 sentence
A basic sentence in Mandarin is formed with a subject-verb-object structure, as in English:
- 我吃馒头
A 把 sentence shakes things up a bit and re-arranges the word order:
- Subject + 把 + Object + Verb
So you now have a SOV word order
Sources and further reading
Books
- Mandarin Chinese: A Functional Reference Grammar (pp. 463 - 492)
- 外国人实用汉语语法(中英文对照) (pp. 461 - 470)
Websites
- Mandarin Essential Grammar (Yale): 把 Construction
- CTCFL (Oxford): The 把 Construction
- Mandarin Online: 把字句
