Sentences with 把
Sentences with 把 ("把 "字句) emphasize that an action is being performed on someone or something.
How to use 把
把 
is used to switch the focus of attention from the subject of an action to the object of an action.
In sentences with 把, it doesn't matter who performs the action. The important thing is the object of the action and the result of the action.
is used to switch the focus of attention from the subject of an action to the object of an action.
In sentences with 把, it doesn't matter who performs the action. The important thing is the object of the action and the result of the action. Pay attention
Literally, a sentence with 把 can be translated as "to take an object and do something with it".
Scheme
subject
who?
把
object
what/who?
predicate
what to do?
Pay attention
In sentences with 把, an object is placed before a verb.
Examples
他把信撕碎了
He tore up the letter
tā bǎ xìn sīsuì le
女友把他甩了
His girlfriend dumped him
nǚyǒu bǎ tā shuǎi le
The object is usually something that is known to both speakers. They have either talked about it before or they understand what it's about.
In rare cases, the object is something indefinite, for example, "to break (a) cup".
Examples
你把我手机放在哪儿了？
Where did you put my phone?
nǐ bǎ wǒ shǒujī fàng zài nǎr le
弟弟把一个杯子打碎了
My brother broke a cup
dìdi bǎ yí ge bēizi dǎsuì le
The object can also be something abstract.
Examples
他把在大学认真地学习作为重要的目标
His main goal is to study hard at the university
tā bǎ zài dàxué rènzhēn de xuéxí zuòwéi zhòngyào de mùbiāo
把忧愁去了
To snap out of sadness
bǎ yōuchóu qù le
In some cases, the subject is expressed by a noun denoting an inanimate object, and an object is expressed by a noun denoting a person.
Examples
手机的声音把我吵醒了
The sound of my phone woke me up
shǒujī de shēngyīn bǎ wǒ chǎoxǐng le
帽子把我的发型弄坏了
The hat messed up my hair
màozi bǎ wǒ de fǎxíng nònghuài le
When 把 is not used
We cannot use 把 in following cases:
1) when a verb indicates a sensory perception. For example:
看
听
闻到
听
闻到 2) when a verb indicates the existence or presence of something. For example:
有
在
是
在
是 3) when a verb indicates the position of something. For example:
站
坐
躺
坐
躺 4) when a verb indicates a feeling or emotion. For example:
生气
关心
想
关心
想
5) when a verb indicates movement. For example:
来
下
过去
下
过去 How to use a predicate in sentences with 把
A predicate, which is expressed by a verb, must be followed by a secondary part of a sentence. It can be followed by the particle 了 , an object, an adverbial modifier, reduplicated verbs, or a verb complement.
, an object, an adverbial modifier, reduplicated verbs, or a verb complement. Pay attention
The predicate cannot be placed at the end of a sentence.
Let's look at each of these parts of the sentence.
The particle 了
The particle 了 is placed after a predicate to show that an action has been done.
is placed after a predicate to show that an action has been done.Scheme
subject
把
object
predicate
了
Examples
两家公司把合同签了
The two companies signed a contract
liǎng jiā gōngsī bǎ hétóng qiān le
你们把那个问题解决了
You solved that problem
nǐmen bǎ nà ge wèntí jiějué le
Pay attention
The aspectual particle 过 cannot be used in sentences with 把.
cannot be used in sentences with 把.In sentences with 了, a predicate is often preceded by the function word 给 .
In most cases, 给 is not directly translated into English.
.
In most cases, 给 is not directly translated into English.Examples
我把这件事给忘了
I forgot about it
wǒ bǎ zhè jiàn shì gěi wàng le
他把不需要的机器都给扔了
He threw away all of the unnecessary equipment
tā bǎ bù xūyào de jīqì dōu gěi rēng le
Prepositions and objects
A predicate can be followed by the prepositions 到 , 给 , 在 and 向 . They are used to indicate the direction of an action.
These prepositions are followed by an adjective denoting a place or a person.
, 给 , 在 and 向 . They are used to indicate the direction of an action.
These prepositions are followed by an adjective denoting a place or a person.Examples
他把留下来的钱交给房租了
He gave us the rest of the rent money
tā bǎ liúxiàlái de qián jiāo gěi fángzū le
船长把船驶向泊位
The captain steers the ship to the berth
chuánzhǎng bǎ chuán shǐ xiàng bówèi
我好像把包放在出租车的位置上了
I think I left my bag on the taxi seat
wǒ hǎoxiàng bǎ bāo fàng zài chūzūchē de wèizhì shàng le
Reduplication of verbs
A verb can be reduplicated to emphasize that it is a short-term action or that a person is trying to perform an action. The reduplication of verbs is also used in imperative sentences to soften a statement.
Pay attention
The reduplication of verbs is most commonly used in spoken language.
Examples
好的，那我再次把文件查一查
Okay, then I'll check the document again
hǎo de, nà wǒ zàicì bǎ wénjiàn chá yì chá
你可以把我拍的视频看看吗？
Can you watch the video I made?
nǐ kěyǐ bǎ wǒ pāi de shìpín kànkan ma
妈妈把我的衣服洗了洗，挂在阳台了
My mom washed my clothes and hung them on the balcony
māma bǎ wǒ de yīfu xǐ le xǐ, guà zài yángtái le
Verb complements
In a sentence, a predicate can be followed by the complement of direction, the time-measure complement, the potential complement, the quantity complement, the state complement, or the result complement.
Pay attention
In sentences with 把, a predicate cannot be followed by the potential complement.
Examples
他把钥匙放进了书包里，就走出家门了
He put the keys in his schoolbag and left the house
tā bǎ yàoshi fàngjìn le shūbāo lǐ, jiù zǒuchū jiāmén le
小王把结婚的日期推迟了两天
Xiao Wang postponed the wedding date by two days
xiǎowáng bǎ jiéhūn de rìqí tuīchí le liǎng tiān
老师把一个语法解释好几次了
The teacher explained the grammar several times
lǎoshī bǎ yí ge yǔfǎ jiěshì hǎo jǐ cì le
What should we place before 把
Negative particles, adverbs and modal verbs can be placed before 把 in a sentence.
Examples
你保证不把这事告诉任何人吗？
Do you promise not to tell anyone about this?
nǐ bǎozhèng bù bǎ zhè shì gàosu rènhé rén ma
我经常把自行车放在这里
I often leave my bike here
wǒ jīngcháng bǎ zìxíngchē fàng zài zhèlǐ
你不能把汽车放在这里
You can't park your car here
nǐ bù néng bǎ qìchē fàng zài zhèlǐ