The 把 Sentence: Chinese Grammar Made Simple

Move the object forward and show the result

Chinese normally follows this basic word order:

Subject + Verb + Object

For example:

wǒ guān shàng le mén

我关上了门。

I closed the door.

This is a correct and natural sentence.

But Chinese speakers often use another structure when they want to emphasize what happened to an object:

wǒ bǎ mén guān shàng le

我把门关上了。

I closed the door.

The English translation is almost the same, but the Chinese focus is slightly different.

The 把 sentence puts 门 before the verb and emphasizes how it was handled or changed:

The door was open, and I closed it.

Let’s look at how this useful sentence pattern works.

1. What Is a 把 Sentence?

把 bǎ moves the object before the main verb.

The basic structure is:

Subject + 把 + Object + Verb + Result

Part	Function	Example
我	person doing the action	I
把	introduces the object	把
门	affected object	the door
关上了	action and result	closed

Put everything together:

wǒ bǎ mén guān shàng le

我把门关上了。

I closed the door.

A 把 sentence usually tells us:

Who performed the action
What object was affected
What happened to that object

2. Basic Sentence vs. 把 Sentence

Compare these two sentences.

Basic sentence

wǒ chī wán le dàngāo

我吃完了蛋糕。

I finished the cake.

把 sentence

wǒ bǎ dàngāo chī wán le

我把蛋糕吃完了。

I finished the cake.

The first sentence simply reports the action.

The second sentence puts more attention on 蛋糕 and its result: the cake is now completely eaten.

Another example

tā dǎ pò le bēizi

他打破了杯子。

He broke the cup.

tā bǎ bēizi dǎ pò le

他把杯子打破了。

He broke the cup.

The 把 sentence emphasizes what happened to the cup.

3. The Most Important Idea: What Happened to the Object?

A 把 sentence usually needs more information than just a simple verb.

The listener wants to know:

What did you do to the object, and what was the result?

Incomplete or unnatural

wǒ bǎ shū kàn

我把书看。❌

This sounds unfinished because it does not tell us what happened to the book or how much you read.

Complete and natural

wǒ bǎ shū kàn wán le

我把书看完了。✅

I finished reading the book.

Another example

Incomplete:

tā bǎ mén guān

他把门关。❌

Complete:

tā bǎ mén guān shàng le

他把门关上了。✅

He closed the door.

A useful rule is:

After the verb, show a result, direction, location, amount, recipient, or completed action.

4. 把 + Result Complement

Result complements are very common in 把 sentences.

They tell us the result of the action.

Verb + Result	Meaning
吃完 chī wán	finish eating
写好 xiě hǎo	finish writing successfully
打开 dǎ kāi	open
关上 guān shàng	close
打破 dǎ pò	break
弄坏 nòng huài	damage
写错 xiě cuò	write incorrectly
洗干净 xǐ gānjìng	wash clean
找到 zhǎo dào	find
做完 zuò wán	finish doing

Example 1

wǒ bǎ kāfēi hē wán le

我把咖啡喝完了。

I finished the coffee.

Example 2

tā bǎ zuòyè zuò wán le

他把作业做完了。

He finished his homework.

Example 3

qǐng bǎ nǐ de míngzi xiě hǎo

请把你的名字写好。

Please write your name clearly and correctly.

Example 4

wǒ bù xiǎoxīn bǎ bēizi dǎ pò le

我不小心把杯子打破了。

I accidentally broke the cup.

Example 5

tā bǎ fángjiān dǎsǎo gānjìng le

她把房间打扫干净了。

She cleaned the room.

5. 把 + Direction Complement

You can use a direction complement to explain where an object moved.

Common direction complements include:

Direction	Meaning
拿出来 ná chūlai	take out
放进去 fàng jìnqu	put inside
带回来 dài huílai	bring back
拿走 ná zǒu	take away
送过去 sòng guòqu	deliver over there
搬上去 bān shàngqu	move upstairs

Example 1

qǐng bǎ shǒujī ná chūlai

请把手机拿出来。

Please take out your phone.

Example 2

wǒ bǎ hùzhào fàng jìn bāo lǐ le

我把护照放进包里了。

I put the passport into the bag.

Example 3

tā bǎ wǒ de shū ná zǒu le

他把我的书拿走了。

He took my book away.

Example 4

qǐng bǎ zhè xiē dōngxi dài huílai

请把这些东西带回来。

Please bring these things back.

The direction complement shows what happened to the object after the action.

6. 把 + Location

Another common pattern is:

Subject + 把 + Object + 放／留／写 + Location

Example 1

wǒ bǎ shū fàng zài zhuōzi shàng le

我把书放在桌子上了。

I put the book on the table.

Example 2

tā bǎ chē tíng zài ménkǒu le

他把车停在门口了。

He parked the car at the entrance.

Example 3

qǐng bǎ míngzi xiě zài zhè lǐ

请把名字写在这里。

Please write your name here.

Example 4

bié bǎ shǒujī wàng zài chē lǐ

别把手机忘在车里。

Don’t leave your phone in the car.

In these sentences, the location is an important result of the action.

7. 把 + 给 + Person

Use 给 after the verb when something is transferred or sent to another person.

Pattern

Subject + 把 + Object + Verb + 给 + Person

Example 1

qǐng bǎ zhàopiàn fā gěi wǒ

请把照片发给我。

Please send the photo to me.

Example 2

wǒ bǎ qián huán gěi tā le

我把钱还给他了。

I returned the money to him.

Example 3

qǐng bǎ zhè fèn wénjiàn jiāo gěi Wáng lǎoshī

请把这份文件交给王老师。

Please give this document to Teacher Wang.

Example 4

tā bǎ lǐwù sòng gěi māma le

他把礼物送给妈妈了。

He gave the gift to his mother.

8. The Object Is Usually Specific

The object after 把 is normally something specific or identifiable.

The speaker and listener usually know what object is being discussed.

Natural objects

这本书 — this book
我的手机 — my phone
那扇门 — that door
作业 — the homework
护照 — the passport
桌子上的杯子 — the cup on the table

Examples

qǐng bǎ zhè běn shū gěi wǒ

请把这本书给我。

Please give me this book.

wǒ bǎ nǐ de yàoshi fàng zài zhuōzi shàng le

我把你的钥匙放在桌子上了。

I put your keys on the table.

tā bǎ nà bēi kāfēi hē wán le

他把那杯咖啡喝完了。

He finished that cup of coffee.

The object does not always need words such as 这 or 那, but it should normally be understood as a particular object in the conversation.

9. How to Make a Negative 把 Sentence

Put 没 or 没有 before 把 when an action did not happen.

Pattern

Subject + 没（有）+ 把 + Object + Verb + Result

Correct

wǒ méi bǎ mén guān shàng

我没把门关上。

I did not close the door.

Incorrect

wǒ bǎ mén méi guān shàng

我把门没关上。❌

The negative word comes before 把.

More examples

wǒ hái méi bǎ zuòyè zuò wán

我还没把作业做完。

I have not finished my homework yet.

tā méiyǒu bǎ wénjiàn fā gěi wǒ

他没有把文件发给我。

He did not send the document to me.

wǒ méi bǎ hùzhào dài lái

我没把护照带来。

I did not bring my passport.

10. Negative Commands with 别 and 不要

Put 别 or 不要 before 把.

Pattern

别／不要 + 把 + Object + Verb + Result

Example 1

bié bǎ mén dǎ kāi

别把门打开。

Don’t open the door.

Example 2

bú yào bǎ kāfēi fàng zài diànnǎo pángbiān

不要把咖啡放在电脑旁边。

Don’t put the coffee beside the computer.

Example 3

bié bǎ wǒ de shū ná zǒu

别把我的书拿走。

Don’t take my book away.

Example 4

bú yào bǎ zhè jiàn shì gàosu biérén

不要把这件事告诉别人。

Don’t tell other people about this.

11. Modal Verbs Come Before 把

Modal verbs such as 要、想、应该、可以、能 and 必须 normally come before 把.

要把

nǐ yào bǎ hùzhào dài shàng

你要把护照带上。

You need to bring your passport.

想把

wǒ xiǎng bǎ zhège wèntí jiějué

我想把这个问题解决。

I want to solve this problem.

应该把

nǐ yīnggāi bǎ zuòyè zuò wán

你应该把作业做完。

You should finish your homework.

可以把

nǐ kěyǐ bǎ bāo fàng zài zhè lǐ

你可以把包放在这里。

You can put your bag here.

必须把

wǒmen bìxū bǎ zhè fèn biǎo tián hǎo

我们必须把这份表填好。

We must complete this form.

The general order is:

Subject + Modal Verb + 把 + Object + Action and Result

12. How to Ask Questions with 把

You can add 吗 or use question words such as 哪儿、谁、怎么 and 为什么.

吗 question

nǐ bǎ zuòyè zuò wán le ma

你把作业做完了吗？

Have you finished your homework?

Location question

nǐ bǎ yàoshi fàng zài nǎr le

你把钥匙放在哪儿了？

Where did you put the keys?

Person question

shéi bǎ chuānghu dǎ kāi le

谁把窗户打开了？

Who opened the window?

Method question

nǐ zěnme bǎ zhège wèntí jiějué le

你怎么把这个问题解决了？

How did you solve this problem?

The question word stays in the position of the missing information.

13. Basic Sentence, 把 Sentence and 被 Sentence

The same event can sometimes be expressed in three ways.

Basic sentence

wǒ dǎ pò le bēizi

我打破了杯子。

I broke the cup.

This is a neutral description of the event.

把 sentence

wǒ bǎ bēizi dǎ pò le

我把杯子打破了。

I broke the cup.

This focuses on what I did to the cup.

被 sentence

bēizi bèi wǒ dǎ pò le

杯子被我打破了。

The cup was broken by me.

This focuses on what happened to the cup.

Structure	Main focus
我打破了杯子。	The complete event
我把杯子打破了。	What the doer did to the cup
杯子被我打破了。	What happened to the cup

Another comparison

háizimen chī wán le dàngāo

孩子们吃完了蛋糕。

The children finished the cake.

háizimen bǎ dàngāo chī wán le

孩子们把蛋糕吃完了。

The children finished the cake.

dàngāo bèi háizimen chī wán le

蛋糕被孩子们吃完了。

The cake was finished by the children.

14. When You Should Not Use 把

Not every sentence with an object can become a 把 sentence.

把 works best when the action clearly affects, moves, changes, completes, or handles the object.

It is usually not used with simple feelings, knowledge, possession, or relationships.

喜欢

Natural:

wǒ xǐhuan zhè běn shū

我喜欢这本书。

I like this book.

Incorrect:

wǒ bǎ zhè běn shū xǐhuan

我把这本书喜欢。❌

认识

Natural:

wǒ rènshi tā

我认识他。

I know him.

Incorrect:

wǒ bǎ tā rènshi

我把他认识。❌

有

Natural:

wǒ yǒu yí liàng chē

我有一辆车。

I have a car.

Incorrect:

wǒ bǎ yí liàng chē yǒu

我把一辆车有。❌

知道

Natural:

wǒ zhīdào zhè jiàn shì

我知道这件事。

I know about this.

Incorrect:

wǒ bǎ zhè jiàn shì zhīdào

我把这件事知道。❌

Ask yourself:

Did the action do something clear to the object?

Or:

tā bǎ shǒujī ná chūlai le

他把手机拿出来了。

He took the phone out.

The added direction tells us what happened to the phone.

16. A Short Everyday Dialogue

Lily

nǐ kàn dào wǒ de hùzhào le ma

你看到我的护照了吗？

Have you seen my passport?

Ray

kàn dào le。wǒ bǎ tā fàng zài zhuōzi shàng le

看到了。我把它放在桌子上了。

Yes. I put it on the table.

Lily

máfan nǐ bǎ hùzhào fàng jìn wǒ de bāo lǐ，hǎo ma

麻烦你把护照放进我的包里，好吗？

Could you please put the passport into my bag?

Ray

hǎo，wǒ yǐjīng bǎ hùzhào fàng jìnqu le

好，我已经把护照放进去了。

Sure. I’ve already put it inside.

17. Sentence Pattern Practice

Pattern

Subject + 把 + Object + Verb + Result

Build each sentence in the correct order.

Sentence 1

English: I closed the door.

关上了 / 我 / 门 / 把

Sentence 2

English: Please put the book on the table.

书 / 请 / 桌子上 / 放在 / 把

Sentence 3

English: She finished her homework.

做完了 / 她 / 作业 / 把

Sentence 4

English: Please send the photo to me.

发给我 / 照片 / 请 / 把

Sentence 5

English: I did not bring my passport.

护照 / 我 / 带来 / 没 / 把

Sentence 6

English: Don’t put the coffee beside the computer.

电脑旁边 / 咖啡 / 放在 / 不要 / 把

Sentence 7

English: Where did you put the keys?

钥匙 / 你 / 哪儿 / 放在 / 了 / 把

Sentence 8

English: Who opened the window?

打开了 / 谁 / 窗户 / 把

18. Practice Answers

Answer 1

wǒ bǎ mén guān shàng le

我把门关上了。

I closed the door.

Answer 2

qǐng bǎ shū fàng zài zhuōzi shàng

请把书放在桌子上。

Please put the book on the table.

Answer 3

tā bǎ zuòyè zuò wán le

她把作业做完了。

She finished her homework.

Answer 4

qǐng bǎ zhàopiàn fā gěi wǒ

请把照片发给我。

Please send the photo to me.

Answer 5

wǒ méi bǎ hùzhào dài lái

我没把护照带来。

I did not bring my passport.

Answer 6

bú yào bǎ kāfēi fàng zài diànnǎo pángbiān

不要把咖啡放在电脑旁边。

Don’t put the coffee beside the computer.

Answer 7

nǐ bǎ yàoshi fàng zài nǎr le

你把钥匙放在哪儿了？

Where did you put the keys?

Answer 8

shéi bǎ chuānghu dǎ kāi le

谁把窗户打开了？

Who opened the window?

19. Make It Personal

Complete these sentences with your own information.

Something you finished

wǒ bǎ ______ zuò wán le

我把______做完了。

I finished ______.

Something you put somewhere

wǒ bǎ ______ fàng zài ______

我把______放在______。

I put ______ in or on ______.

Something you have not completed

wǒ hái méi bǎ ______ zuò wán

我还没把______做完。

I have not finished ______ yet.

Something you want someone to do

qǐng bǎ ______ gěi wǒ

请把______给我。

Please give me ______.

A negative command

bié bǎ ______ fàng zài ______

别把______放在______。

Don’t put ______ in or on ______.

Key Takeaway

The basic 把 sentence is:

Subject + 把 + Object + Verb + Result

For example:

wǒ bǎ mén guān shàng le

我把门关上了。

I closed the door.

Remember these five important points:

把 moves the object before the verb.
The object is normally specific or understood in the conversation.
The action should clearly affect or change the object.
The verb is usually followed by a result, direction, location, recipient, amount, or 了.
Negative words and modal verbs come before 把.

Compare:

wǒ bǎ bēizi dǎ pò le

我把杯子打破了。

I broke the cup.

bēizi bèi wǒ dǎ pò le

杯子被我打破了。

The cup was broken by me.

把 focuses on what someone did to the object.

被 focuses on what happened to the affected object.

Once you understand this difference, both sentence patterns become much easier to use.

Next Grammar Topic

会、能、可以: Three Ways to Say “Can” in Chinese

Learn the difference between learned ability, physical ability, circumstances, and permission.