HSK 3
被动句1:主语+被/叫/让+宾语+动词+其他成分
bèi dòng jù 1 : zhǔ yǔ + bèi / jiào / ràng + bīn yǔ + dòng cí + qí tā chéng fèn
Passive sentence with 被/叫/让 (Bèi/jiào/ràng)
Explanation
This is the 被 (passive) construction (the 被 construction → a special sentence type using 被 to express the passive), that is, a passive sentence used to emphasize that the subject is acted upon by another agent. Besides 被 (bèi), 叫 (jiào) and 让 (ràng) are also used with the meaning "to be / to be made to".
subject (subject → the person or thing performing the action, here it is the target being acted upon) + 被/叫/让 + agent + verb + other elements (result, 了...). For example 手机被我用坏了 (the phone got used and broken by me) — after the verb 用 there must be a result complement 坏 (huài – broken) and 了.
when you want to say that something happened to the subject unintentionally, usually with an undesirable result (broken, dirtied, bewitched).
被 can be used in both written and spoken language and the agent can be omitted (被用坏了 – got used and broken); whereas 叫/让 lean colloquial and REQUIRE the agent to be stated after them (do not say 叫弄脏了 but 叫弟弟弄脏了).
forgetting to add an element after the verb — the 被 construction almost never ends with a bare verb; there must be 了/a result/a direction (wrong: 被我用 → correct: 被我用坏了).
Examples
That phone was used up and broken by me long ago.
My dictionary got dirtied by my younger brother.
He was completely captivated by this girl.
Practice
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Learn “被动句1:主语+被/叫/让+宾语+动词+其他成分” effectively
The grammar point “被动句1:主语+被/叫/让+宾语+动词+其他成分” (Passive sentence with 被/叫/让 (Bèi/jiào/ràng)) is one of the key structures at HSK 3. To use it fluently, you need to understand the contexts where it's used and practice regularly.
Study tip: read the examples aloud many times to build a natural reflex. Then try making your own sentences for your own situations. Use the audio button to hear and practice accurate pronunciation.
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