I. What is the bǎ 把construction?

 

As a coverb, bǎ把 has no equivalent in English. It is simply a means by which the direct object is displaced to a position before the verb. Bǎ把 construction is a ‘disposal form’ (Wang Li 1947: 160ff.) It states “how a person is handled, manipulated or dealt with; how something is disposed of; or how an affair is concluded” (translation by Charles N. Li 1974: 200-201). A sentence with the bǎ 把construction follows the basic pattern below.

 

      subject           bǎ把 + direct object     verb + complementary element

 

      Lǐ Míng         bǎ nǐ-de zìdiǎn         názǒu le.

      李明               把你的字典         拿走了。

      Ming Li has taken your dictionary away.

 

      subject           bǎ 把+ direct object      verb + complementary element

                

                            Bǎ shū                dǎkāi. 

                            把书                    打开。

Open the book.