\t\u88ab sentences (\u88ab\u5b57\u53e5 in Chinese) are simply sentences which use a passive verb and the preposition \u88ab. \u88ab sentences are not the only way to create the passive verb form in Chinese, but they are the most common, and definitely the type to tackle first.<\/p>\n
\tWhy use them? <\/strong> \tHow to use them <\/strong> \tForming a \u88ab Sentence<\/strong> \tIn this sentence, "the boy" is the subject. The verb is \u5403, "to eat," but it needs something else after it, which is \u4e86 in this case. The object is \u70ed\u72d7, "the hot dog."<\/p>\n \tThis sentence meets all the preconditions. Now all you need to do is introduce the preposition \u88ab and move the parts of the sentence around a bit: \tForming a \u88ab Sentence with No "Doer"<\/p>\n \tIf we want to, we can also omit the "doer" (\u7537\u5b69) and say: \tForming a Negative \u88ab Sentence<\/strong><\/p>\n \tThere's just one other complication. What if you want to make a sentence in the negative? For example, continuing with our wonderful theme, if you wanted to say:<\/p>\n \tThe hot dog was not eaten by the boy.<\/p>\n \tIn this case, the negative adverb \u6ca1\u6709 needs to be inserted before the \u88ab[2], and the verb still needs something after it, which in this case is \u6389. (We're using \u6389, which adds a meaning of "totally" to the verb, because you don't use \u4e86 when you use \u6ca1\u6709 to negate.) This is what we get:<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \tAdding Adverbs in a \u88ab Sentence<\/strong><\/p>\n \tWhat if you want to include adverbs in your \u88ab sentence? Where should those go? They go in the same place as the negative adverb \u6ca1\u6709, above. (Frequently you'll see the word "adverbial" or "adverbial adjunct" used in this case, because some words in Chinese, such as time words, act like adverbs but are technically nouns.) In the following example we'll use the adverb \u521a, which is used to express that something just recently happened.<\/p><\/p>\n
\tPassive sentences are used for several main reasons:
\t1. To indicate that one has been negatively affected.
\t2. To shift emphasis from the "doer" of the action to the one affected by that action.
\t3. To avoid having to mention the "doer" of the action, either because it is unknown, or for other reasons.<\/p>\n
\tNormal use of \u88ab has a few preconditions:
\t1. The verb to be used with \u88ab needs to have an object (this will become the new subject of the \u88ab sentence). Verbs that take objects are called transitive verbs.
\t2. If you're going to state who the verb was done by (the "doer"), then the subject doing the original action must be known.
\t3. The verb can't be too simple (for example, a one-character verb like \u5403). Put simply, something needs to come after the verb. That "something" can be a particle, a complement, or sometimes even an additional object.<\/p>\n
\tLet's use our example above to show how the process works: \t<\/p>\n
\t\u7537\u5b69 \u5403 \u4e86 \u70ed\u72d7 \u3002<\/div>\n
\t1. The object is \u70ed\u72d7. Move that to the front; it's the new subject in the \u88ab sentence.
\t2. Add \u88ab after the subject, then insert what was previously the subject. (It's now the doer.)
\t3. Finish off with the verb phrase \u5403\u4e86. (Don't forget to include the part that comes after the verb!)
\tSo the new \u88ab sentence is:
\tRè \u0261\u01d2u bèi nán hái ch\u012b le.
\t\u70ed\u72d7 \u88ab \u7537\u5b69 \u5403 \u4e86 \u3002The hot dog was eaten by the boy.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\tRè \u0261\u01d2u bèi ch\u012b le.
\t\u70ed\u72d7 \u88ab \u5403 \u4e86 \u3002The hot dog was eaten.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n