HSK 6

“把”字句4:表致使

“ bǎ ” zì jù 4 : biǎo zhì shǐ

The "把" sentence type 4: Expressing causation (致使)

Explanation

This is type 4 of the 把 sentence (a sentence using 把 bǎ to emphasize the handling/effect on the object), used to express 致使 (zhì shǐ = to cause, to make happen): the subject brings about a result or state for the object that follows 把.

Structure

subject (the cause) + 把 + object (the thing affected) + verb + result component. There are two patterns: (1) the subject is a thing/event: 这双鞋把脚磨破了 (these shoes chafed the foot raw); (2) the subject is a person whose action makes another person fall into some state, usually with the complement 得 (the component after a verb that indicates degree/result): 他把大伙儿笑得肚子疼 (he made everyone laugh until their stomachs hurt).

When to use

when you want to emphasize that a cause has brought about a concrete consequence for the object (getting scraped, being woken up, laughing until it hurts, being moved to tears). After the verb there must be a result component (了, 破, 醒, or 得 + state); the verb cannot stand bare.

Distinguish

unlike an ordinary 把 sentence (where the subject actively handles a thing, as in 把门关上 = close the door), in this type the subject is often an inanimate thing or causes the effect unintentionally (声音把我吵醒 = the noise woke me up).

Common mistakes

Vietnamese learners often omit the result component after the verb, saying the truncated 声音把我吵 (wrong) instead of 声音把我吵醒了. Also, do not use purely perceptual/psychological verbs (喜欢, 知道) in a 把 sentence.

Examples

这双鞋把脚磨破了。
zhèshuāngxiéjiǎole

These shoes chafed my feet raw.

外面的声音把我吵醒了。
wàimiàndeshēngyīnchǎoxǐngle

The noise outside woke me up.

他把大伙儿笑得肚子疼。
huǒrxiàodeziténg

He made everyone laugh until their stomachs hurt.

他把爸爸气得一夜没睡。
bademéishuì

He made his father so angry that he could not sleep all night.

孩子把妈妈感动得流下了眼泪。
háizimagǎndòngdeliúxiàleyǎnlèi

The child moved the mother so much that she shed tears.

Practice

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Learn ““把”字句4:表致使” effectively

The grammar point ““把”字句4:表致使” (The "把" sentence type 4: Expressing causation (致使)) is one of the key structures at HSK 6. 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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