The 把 (bǎ) Construction: A Beginner's Guide

The structure

Subject + 把 + object + verb + something (result, direction, location, or 了)

• 请把门关上。 (Qǐng bǎ mén guān shàng.) — Please close the door.
• 我把书放在桌子上。 (Wǒ bǎ shū fàng zài zhuōzi shang.) — I put the book on the table.
• 他把作业做完了。 (Tā bǎ zuòyè zuò wán le.) — He finished his homework.

Rule 1: the object must be specific

The object is normally something known or specific, such as "the book" rather than "a book". 我把一本书放在桌子上 is unnatural unless the book has been mentioned.

Rule 2: the verb needs something after it

You can't use a bare verb: 我把门关 ✗. You need a result complement (完, 好, 上), a direction, a location, or 了.

Rule 3: the verb should affect the object

把 fits verbs that do something to the object — move, change, finish, break, give. Verbs of perception or feeling, like 看见 (see), 喜欢 (like) or 知道 (know), can't be used with 把.

Common result words

• 完 (wán) — finished: 吃完, 做完
• 好 (hǎo) — done properly: 准备好, 修好
• 上 (shàng) — closed or attached: 关上, 穿上
• 走 (zǒu) — away: 拿走, 带走
• 掉 (diào) — off, away: 扔掉

Negation and modals

Place 没 or modals before 把:

• 我没把钱带来。 (Wǒ méi bǎ qián dài lái.) — I didn't bring the money.
• 你应该把药吃了。 (Nǐ yīnggāi bǎ yào chī le.) — You should take the medicine.

Requests and commands

把 is very common in requests and instructions:

• 请把手机关掉。 (Qǐng bǎ shǒujī guān diào.) — Please turn off your phone.
• 把窗户打开！ (Bǎ chuānghu dǎkāi!) — Open the window!

When not to use it

Many sentences work fine without 把, and simple, neutral statements often don't need it. Use it when you want to focus on the result or handling of the object.

Practice

1. Turn ten simple sentences into 把 sentences.
2. Add different result words.
3. Try giving instructions using 把.
4. Look up example sentences in a dictionary.

Look up verbs and result words with English Chinese Dictionary →