Chinese Grammar Bank
HOW TO USE 把
If you are in the more advanced stages of learning Chinese, you’ve probably already asked how to use 把 in a sentence?
There’s plenty to go through so we’ve broken the article down into bite-sized chunks for you.
HOW TO USE 把 | EXPLANATION
Basic sentence structures in Mandarin follow a subject-verb-object structure.
|
我看书。
wǒ kàn shū. I read a book |
However, a 把 (bǎ) sentence structure mainly follows a subject-object-verb structure with 把 coming before the object.
PATTERN
把 + Object + Verb phrases
|
我把书看完了。
wǒ bǎ shū kàn wán le. I finished reading the book. |
This structure is because 把 focuses on the result or influence of an action that’s shown in the verb phrase. It shows the change of state of an object because of that action.
For English learners, this might be a bit confusing since there isn’t a similar structure in English. But in Chinese, it’s not grammatically correct to have a structure that follows “verb + object + verb modifiers”.
Verb modifiers cannot be away from the verb so a sentence like this is incorrect: 我看书完了。wǒ kàn shū wán le.
| CHINESE | PINYIN | ENGLISH |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| 请把护照放在行李箱里了。 | qǐng bǎ hùzhào fàng zài xíng li xiāng lǐ le. | Please put your passport in the suitcase. |
| 我把她的生日忘了。 | wǒ bǎ tā de shēngrì wàng le. | I forgot her birthday. |
5 KEY POINTS ABOUT 把
Usage of 把 | Key Point #1
The object of a 把 sentence should be definite or specific.
| ❌ | ✅ |
|---|---|
| 我把一本书还了。 | 我把那本书还了。 |
| wǒ bǎ yì běn shū huán le. | wǒ bǎ nà běn shū huán le. |
| I returned a book. | I returned that book. |
Usage of 把 | Key Point #2
A 把 sentence must have other elements after it to indicate completion of an action which implies the change of state of the object hence the use of a verb phrase.
| ❌ | ✅ |
|---|---|
| 我把这事儿忘。 | 我把这事儿忘了。 |
| wǒ bǎ zhè shì r wàng. | wǒ bǎ zhè shì r wàng le. |
| I forgot about it. | I forgot about this issue. |
Usage of 把 | Key Point #3
把 sentences are not tied to a specific time so they can be used to talk about past events or requests.
Examples:
| CHINESE | PINYIN | ENGLISH |
|---|---|---|
| 请把你上次借的书还了。 | qǐng bǎ nǐ shàng cì jiè de shū huán le. | Please return the book you borrowed last time. |
| 昨天他把我的鞋子还了。 | zuó tiān tā bǎ wǒ de xié zi huán le. | He returned my shoes yesterday. |
Usage of 把 | Key Point #4
In 把 sentences, negatives and adverbs are put before 把.
For negatives, 不要 or 别 are used for present or future tense and 没/没有 is for the past tense.
Examples:
| CHINESE | PINYIN | ENGLISH |
|---|---|---|
| 你没有把房间打扫干净。 | nǐ méiyǒu bǎ fángjiān dǎsǎo gānjìng. | You didn’t clean the room. |
| 我们不要把这件事告诉她。 | wǒmen bú yào bǎ zhè jiàn shì gàosu tā. | We don’t want to tell her about this matter. |
| 你别把本子放在椅子下。 | nǐ bié bǎ běnzi fàng zài yǐzi xià. | Don’t put the notebook under the chair. |
Adverbs in 把 sentences can change the meaning of the sentence.
Exceptional adverbs like 都(dōu) can go before or after 把, but before the verb phrase.
Examples:
| CHINESE | PINYIN | ENGLISH |
|---|---|---|
| 我们都把作业做完了。 | wǒmen dōu bǎ zuòyè zuò wán le. | We all finished our homework. |
| 他把咖啡都喝完了。 | tā bǎ kāfēi dōu hē wán le. | He drank all the coffee. |
| 我已经把钱还给你了。 | wǒ yǐjīng bǎ qián huán gěi nǐ le. | I already returned the money to you. |
| 我可能把手机忘在朋友家了。 | wǒ kěnéng bǎ shǒujī wàng zài péngyǒu jiāle. | I may have forgotten my phone at my friend’s house. |
Usage of 把 | Key Point #5
把 can be used as a measure word for things with handles or things that you can hold.
Because 把 can be a measure word, it’s important to pay attention to the way it is being used.
Examples:
| CHINESE | PINYIN | ENGLISH |
|---|---|---|
| 一把椅子。 | yī bǎ yǐzi. | A chair. |
| 我想买两把抢。 | wǒ xiǎng mǎi liǎng bǎ qiǎng. | I want to buy two guns. |
| 请把那把伞拿给我。 | qǐng bǎ nà bǎ sǎn ná gěi wǒ. | Please bring me that umbrella. |
HOW TO USE 把 WITH TWO OBJECTS
As in the basic structure mentioned previously, the object is immediately after 把。
In this case, there are two objects in the sentence and it only works with certain verbs.
PATTERN
Subject + 把 (bǎ) + Object 1 + Verb + Object 2 (+ Particle)
Object 1 is the one that’s being given while Object 2 is the receiver of Object 1.
In most cases, a preposition like 给 (gěi) is used in this kind of sentence to indicate location or direction.
Common verbs used in these sentences are:
- 拿 (ná) – to take
- 递 (dì) – to hand
- 卖 (mài) – to sell
- 借(jiè) – to borrow
- 介绍 (jièshào) – to introduce
Verbs meaning “to give” or “to return” are also used:
- 给 (gěi) – to give
- 送 (sòng) – to send
- 找 (zhǎo) – to find
- 还 (huán) – to return
| CHINESE | PINYIN | ENGLISH |
|---|---|---|
| 他把礼物送给客人了。 | tā bǎ lǐwù sòng gěi kè rén le. | He gave presents to the guests. |
| 我把他介绍给我老板了。 | wǒ bǎ tā jièshào gěi wǒ lǎobǎn le. | I introduced him to my boss. |
| 你把你的护照给我。 | nǐ bǎ nǐ de hùzhào gěi wǒ. | Give me your passport. |
HOW TO USE 把 WITH RESULTATIVE COMPLEMENTS
把 (bǎ) and resultative complements focus on the result of an action.
| CHINESE | PINYIN | ENGLISH |
|---|---|---|
| 我把我的作业做完了。 | wǒ bǎ wǒ de zuòyè zuò wán le. | I finished doing my homework. |
| 你把老师的名字读错了。 | nǐ bǎ lǎoshī de míngzi dú cuò le. | You read the teacher’s name incorrectly/wrong. |
| 我把书看完了。 | wǒ bǎ shū kàn wán le. | I finished reading the book. |
Other resultative complements like 到 (dào)，在 (zài) and 成 (chéng) express a change of position or status of something or somebody that has resulted from an action. Such sentences can only be formed using 把.
Examples:
| CHINESE | PINYIN | ENGLISH |
|---|---|---|
| 他把这个词翻译成英文。 | tā bǎ zhège cí fānyì chéng yīngwén. | He translated this word into English. |
| 她把这些汉字写在本子上。 | tā bǎ zhèxiē hànzì xiě zài běnzi shàng. | She wrote these characters in the book. |
| 我把汽车开到宿舍楼前边。 | wǒ bǎ qìchē kāi dào sùshè lóu qiánbian. | I drove the car to the front of the dorm building. |
HOW TO USE 把 WITH DIRECTIONAL COMPLEMENTS
Directional complements focus on the result of an action by describing the direction of the object. These complements make the direction of an object clearer.
Examples:
| 请把客人带进去。 | 把我的杯子拿过来。 |
| qǐng bǎ kèrén dài jìnqù. | bǎ wǒ de bēizi ná guòlái. |
| Please take the guests inside. | Please bring my glass over here. |
In some instances, verbs like 带 (dài)，拿 (ná) and 请 (qǐng) are immediately followed by 来 (lái) or 去 (qù).
PATTERN
Subject (+ Adverb) + 把 + Object + Verb + 来/去 (+ 了)
Examples:
| CHINESE | PINYIN | ENGLISH |
|---|---|---|
| 我没有把那本书拿去。 | wǒ méiyǒu bǎ nà běn shū ná qù. | I didn’t take that book. |
| 他把他的衣服带去。 | tā bǎ tā de yīfú dài qù. | He took his clothes. |
| 我也把她请来了。 | wǒ yě bǎ tā qǐng lái le. | I also invited her. |
Take note of the difference between the meaning of these two sentences:
| 请把他的护照带来。 | 请把他的护照带去。 |
| qǐng bǎ tā de hùzhào dài lái. | qǐng bǎ tā de hùzhào dài qù. |
| Please bring his passport. | Please take his passport. |
OTHER FORMS OF 把 SENTENCES
Question forms
Making questions with 把 can be done in two ways;
A) With a question particle or question word
These question particles and words can include 吗 (ma)，谁 (shéi) and 哪儿 (nǎ’er) etc.
| CHINESE | PINYIN | ENGLISH |
|---|---|---|
| 你想把画挂在哪儿? | nǐ xiǎng bǎ huà guà zài nǎ’er? | Where do you want to hang the picture? |
| 你把那个问题解决了吗? | nǐ bǎ nàgè wèntí jiějuéle ma? | Did you solve that problem? |
| 她把钱借给谁了? | tā bǎ qián jiè gěi shéile? | Who did she lend the money to? |
B) With positive-negative
| EXAMPLE 1 | EXAMPLE 2 |
|---|---|
| 你能不能把你的房间打扫干净? | 你忘不忘把刚刚买的衣服放在房间里? |
| nǐ néng bùnéng bǎ nǐ de fángjiān dǎsǎo gānjìng? | nǐ wàng bù wàng bǎ gānggang mǎi de yīfú fàng zài fángjiān lǐ? |
| Can you clean your room? | Did you forget to put the clothes you just bought in the room? |
With quantity phrases
As mentioned in the keynotes, the object in a 把 sentence must be specific. This includes measure words that come after 把.
Examples:
| EXAMPLE 1 | EXAMPLE 2 |
|---|---|
| 我把那两件脏衣服洗干净了。 | 他把最后三块蛋糕吃完了。 |
| wǒ bǎ nà liǎng jiàn zàng yīfú xǐ gānjìngle. | tā bǎ zuìhòu sān kuài dàngāo chī wánliǎo. |
| I washed those two dirty clothes. | He finished the last three pieces of cake. |
In these sentences, verb measure words come at the end of a sentence.
Examples:
| EXAMPLE 1 | EXAMPLE 2 |
|---|---|
| 把课文读一遍。 | 他把手机摔坏过三次。 |
| bǎ kèwén dú yībiàn. | tā bǎ shǒujī shuāi huàiguò sāncì. |
| Read the text once again. | He broke (or has broken) his phone three times. |
SIDE NOTES
Verbs that describe what the subject did or how the subject feels but cannot show what happened to the object can’t be used as verbs that come after 把.
Therefore these verbs can’t be used:
- 爱 (ài) – to love
- 喜欢 (xǐhuān) – to like
- 了解 (liǎojiě) – to understand
- 恨 (hèn) – to hate
- 听 (tīng) – to listen
- 闻 (wén) – to hear
- 像 (xiàng) – to resemble
- 知道 (zhīdào) – to know
- 觉得 (juédé) – to think
- 是 (shì) – to be
- 回 (huí) – to return
- etc.
Verbs like 看 kàn must have a resultative complement.
Potential complements can’t be used in 把 sentences because they are hypothetical, while 把 describes what actually happens.
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FAQs
What is the basic structure of 把?
A 把 (bǎ) sentence structure mainly follows a subject-object-verb structure with 把 (bǎ) coming before the object.
Subject + 把 (bǎ) + Object + Verb phrase
把 focuses on the result or influence of an action that’s shown in the verb phrase. It shows the change of state of an object because of that action.
Examples:
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.
我把她的生日忘了。 wǒ bǎ tā de shēngrì wàng le. | I forgot her birthday.
How is 把 used in Chinese?
It can be used in a number of ways. Here are some examples.
把 (bǎ) with two objects:
Subject + 把 (bǎ) + Object 1 + Verb + Object 2 (+ Particle)
Object 1 is the one that’s being given while Object 2 is the receiver of Object 1.
他把礼物送给客人了。tā bǎ lǐwù sòng gěi kè rén le. | He gave presents to the guests.
我把他介绍给我老板了。 wǒ bǎ tā jièshào gěi wǒ lǎobǎn le. | I introduced him to my boss.
— —
把 with resultative complements:
把 (bǎ) and resultative compliments focus on the result of an action.
我把我的作业做完了。wǒ bǎ wǒ de zuòyè zuò wán le.| I finished doing my homework.
我把书看完了。 wǒ bǎ shū kàn wán le. | I finished reading the book.
— —
把 with directional complements:
Directional compliments focus on the result of an action by describing the direction of the object.
我也把她请来了。wǒ yě bǎ tā qǐng lái le.| I also invited her.
我没有把那本书拿去。wǒ méiyǒu bǎ nà běn shū ná qù. | I didn’t take that book.
What are some sentences with 把?
请把护照放在行李箱里了。 qǐng bǎ hùzhào fàng zài xíng li xiāng lǐ le. | Please put your passport in the suitcase.
我们不要把这件事告诉她。wǒmen bú yào bǎ zhè jiàn shì gàosu tā.| We don’t want to tell her about this matter.
他把咖啡都喝完了。 tā bǎ kāfēi dōu hē wán le.| He drank all the coffee.
你把老师的名字读错了。nǐ bǎ lǎoshī de míngzi dú cuò le.| You read the teacher’s name incorrectly.
他把他的衣服带去。tā bǎ tā de yīfú dài qù. | He took his clothes.
Where can I review previous grammar lessons?
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What Chinese level is the 把 sentence?
The 把 sentence is considered a complex structure in the Chinese language.
A structure you usually learn entering the B1 / HSK3 level.
Will my LTL teacher teach me the 把 sentence?
Of course! We build our class curriculum based on the HSK one, with a more practical approach to daily life.
The 把 structure is of course included in the lessons.
Your teacher will spend some time explaining it, just like with any other grammar point, to make sure you master it completely.
If you do not have a Chinese teacher yet, have a look at our Mandarin classes.