The pivotal sentences
The pivotal sentence is a simple sentence with two predicates expressed by verbs. In these sentences, an object of the first verb is the subject of the second verb.
Examples
老师让我做作业
The teacher told me to do my homework
lǎoshī ràng wǒ zuò zuòyè
The sentence above can be divided into two parts: "the teacher told me" and "I do my homework".
The connection between these parts of the sentence is the following: the teacher told (whom?) me (what should I do?) to do my homework.
Scheme
subject
verb 1
object 1
who?
verb 2
object
The pivotal sentences are used in the following cases:
1) in imperative sentences. The first verb in a pivotal sentence is often one the following:
请 
让
叫
让
叫 Examples
他请我做点儿饭
He asked me to cook something
tā qǐng wǒ zuò diǎnr fàn
老板让我负责一个新的项目
My boss told me to take on a new project
lǎobǎn ràng wǒ fùzé yí ge xīn de xiàngmù
他叫你跟他一起去吗？
Did he ask you to go with him?
tā jiào nǐ gēn tā yìqǐ qù ma
2) to express praise or criticism. In this case, the words 表扬 and 批评 are often used.
and 批评 are often used.Examples
妈妈表扬弟弟得到了第一名
Mum praised my brother for coming in first place
māma biǎoyáng dìdi dédào le dìyī míng
陈老师批评她没做作业
Teacher Chen scolds her for not doing her homework
chén lǎoshī pīpíng tā méi zuò zuòyè
3) to denote a position. In this case, the words 选 and 任命 are often used.
and 任命 are often used.Examples
人民都选他当总统
The whole nation elected him president
rénmín dōu xuǎn tā dāng zǒngtǒng
总统任命了一位平民做国防部长
The President appointed a civilian as Secretary of Defense
zǒngtǒng rènmìng le yí wèi píngmín zuò guófáng bùzhǎng
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