The 把 (bǎ) Sentence in Chinese
把
The 把 sentence moves the object before the verb to emphasize what happens to it. Use it when an action changes, moves, or disposes of a specific object. The verb can never stand alone — it needs a complement such as 了, 在, 到 or a result.
Published July 4, 2026
Reviewed July 4, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
Subject + 把 + Object + Verb + Complement
Read the structure
The 把 sentence moves the object before the verb to emphasize what happens to it. Use it when an action changes, moves, or disposes of a specific object. The verb can never stand alone — it needs a complement such as 了, 在, 到 or a result. Keep the model Subject + 把 + Object + Verb + Complement visible while you compare each sentence.
我把书放在桌子上。
I put the book on the table.
Choose the right context
You do something to a specific object and state the result: 请把门关上。 The verb carries a location or direction complement: 我把书放在桌子上。 You finished dealing with something completely: 他把饭吃完了。
请把门关上。
Please close the door.
Respect the boundary
The verb has no result or complement — a bare verb can never end a 把 sentence. With verbs of feeling, knowing, or existence: 喜欢, 知道, 是, 有, 觉得 never take 把. The object is vague or indefinite — the 把 object should be something both speakers can identify: 把那本书给我, not 把一本书给我. Nothing actually happens to the object — for a plain statement, keep normal word order: 我看了那本书。
我把书放。
(I put the book.)
Repair the pattern
Bare verb after 把 (missing complement): A 把 sentence promises a result, so the verb can't stand alone. Say what happened to the object: 放在桌子上, 放好, or 放进去. 把 used with a non-disposal verb: 喜欢 doesn't change or move its object — nothing "happens" to 中文. Verbs of feeling, knowledge, and existence keep normal word order.
我把书放在桌子上。
Use the repaired structure without changing the intended meaning.
02 / MAP
Read the Sentence
Read from left to right and notice the job performed by each part. The labels describe this example; they are not a rule that every Chinese sentence must copy.
我把书放在桌子上。
I put the book on the table.
我把
Subject
This part occupies the Subject position in the model pattern.
书
把
This part occupies the 把 position in the model pattern.
放在
Object
This part occupies the Object position in the model pattern.
桌子
Verb
This part occupies the Verb position in the model pattern.
上
Complement
This part occupies the Complement position in the model pattern.
03 / EXAMPLES
Examples You Can Reuse
Keep the structure stable while changing the people, objects, times, or conditions. Pinyin is shown as reading support; use the Chinese sentence and translation to confirm the grammar relationship.
我把书放在桌子上。
I put the book on the table.
请把门关上。
Please close the door.
他把饭吃完了。
He finished the rice.
我把作业做完了。
I finished my homework.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- You do something to a specific object and state the result: 请把门关上。
- The verb carries a location or direction complement: 我把书放在桌子上。
- You finished dealing with something completely: 他把饭吃完了。
Do not use it when
- The verb has no result or complement — a bare verb can never end a 把 sentence.
- With verbs of feeling, knowing, or existence: 喜欢, 知道, 是, 有, 觉得 never take 把.
- The object is vague or indefinite — the 把 object should be something both speakers can identify: 把那本书给我, not 把一本书给我.
- Nothing actually happens to the object — for a plain statement, keep normal word order: 我看了那本书。
05 / REPAIR
Compare Right and Wrong
Compare the smallest meaningful change. Each explanation identifies a placement, scope, form, or clause relationship instead of treating the whole sentence as one undifferentiated mistake.
我把书放。
我把书放在桌子上。
Bare verb after 把 (missing complement)
A 把 sentence promises a result, so the verb can't stand alone. Say what happened to the object: 放在桌子上, 放好, or 放进去.
我把中文喜欢。
我喜欢中文。
把 used with a non-disposal verb
喜欢 doesn't change or move its object — nothing "happens" to 中文. Verbs of feeling, knowledge, and existence keep normal word order.
我把书放。
Verb after 把 needs a complement: 放在桌子上 / 放好.
我放书在桌子上。
With a location complement, native speakers prefer the 把 structure.
请把一本书给我。
The 把 object should be specific: 请把那本书给我。
06 / PRACTICE
Practice the Grammar Point
Complete three short tasks in order: judge the pattern, repair a common error, and build the sentence. Feedback is fixed and reviewed, so these activities do not use a checker allowance.
1. Judge the sentence
2. Choose the correction
3. Build the sentence
Build a complete sentence with 把.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 把. Your draft moves to the checker through this browser session, selects this grammar point as the first review focus, and waits for you to submit.
08 / QUESTIONS
The 把 (bǎ) Sentence Questions
When do I have to use a 把 sentence?
When the verb is followed by a location complement like 在 or 到, the 把 pattern is usually required: 我把书放在桌子上, not 我放书在桌子上. In most other cases it's a choice of emphasis, not a requirement.
Which verbs can never take 把?
Verbs that don't act on their object: 是, 有, 在, 喜欢, 知道, 觉得, 希望. If nothing happens to the object, don't use 把.
Does the object in a 把 sentence need to be specific?
Yes. 把 presents the object as something already known: 把那本书拿来 works, while 把一本书拿来 usually sounds wrong because 一本书 is indefinite.
09 / SOURCES
Sources and Review Notes
These references support different parts of the lesson. GF0025-2021 supports level placement only; professional grammar works support the explanation, limits, examples, and cross-checks. Their inclusion does not imply endorsement.
Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide, 3rd ed.
Ross, Ma, Chen, He and Yeh · Routledge · 2024
Locator: Construction index and function chapters relevant to 把
Supports the learner-facing account of where 把 appears and what communicative job it performs.
Official sourceChinese: A Comprehensive Grammar, 2nd ed.
Yip and Rimmington · Routledge · 2016
Locator: Relevant sentence and clause chapters for 把
Cross-checks the Subject + 把 + Object + Verb + Complement pattern, clause relationship, and limits represented by the reviewed examples.
Official sourceChinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education (GF0025-2021)
Ministry of Education and State Language Commission · Ministry of Education of the PRC · 2021
Locator: Appendix A, Level 2 grammar inventory
Supports directory placement at HSK 2; it does not independently prove usage rules.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
Compare
被The 被 (bèi) Passive
Compare object disposal with a passive event centered on the affected patient.
Learn first
完/到/见Result Complements (完/到/见)
A clear result often completes the bounded predicate after 把.
Compare
让/叫让 / 叫: Make Someone Do
Distinguish disposing of an object from causing another person to act.
Continue learning
把字句1：表处置Basic 把 Disposal Pattern
Apply the core object-disposal conditions before studying broader 把 variants.
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Compare
Compare object disposal with a passive event centered on the affected patient.