被 sentences (the passive) · les phrases 被 (la voix passive)
A passive names the affected item
- Someone took the book away, and you describe what happened to the book.
- 书被他拿走了。 — The book receives the action, while 他 names the doer.
A passive names the affected item
- Someone took the book away, and you describe what happened to the book.
- book书(passive: by)被he / him他to take away拿走(completed / change)了。 — The book receives the action, while he / him他 names the doer.
Someone took the book away, and you describe what happened to the book. What does 书被他拿走了。 communicate?
The book receives the action, while 他 names the doer. 书被拿走了 omits the doer when unnecessary or unknown. 被 is not limited to bad outcomes: 他被选为队长 is a positive example. Use a complete verb phrase for the intended event.
Build the form
- The pattern in this lesson is 被 sentences (the passive). Locate it in the original interlinear examples below.
- Keep the words in their demonstrated positions; the pattern must fit the intended situation as well as the sentence form.
book书by被him他take away拿走了。
Build the form
- The pattern in this lesson is (passive: by)被 sentences (the passive). Locate it in the original interlinear examples below.
- Keep the words in their demonstrated positions; the pattern must fit the intended situation as well as the sentence form.
book书by被him他take away拿走了。
Using the lesson pattern in this demonstrated example: The book was taken by him: 书 ____ 他拿走了。
被 + (Doer) + Verb Phrase = passive: 书被他拿走了. · 被 + (Exécutant) + Phrase verbale = passif : 书被他拿走了.
Read examples in context
- In the opening example, 书被他拿走了。: The book receives the action, while 他 names the doer.
- Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.
Read examples in context
- In the opening example, book书(passive: by)被he / him他to take away拿走(completed / change)了。: The book receives the action, while he / him他 names the doer.
- Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.
In a 被 sentence, the subject is… · Dans une phrase 被, le sujet est…
被 marks the subject as the receiver: 书被他拿走了 (the book was taken). · 被 marque le sujet comme receveur : 书被他拿走了 (le livre a été pris).
Build: “The book was taken by him.” · Construire : “Le livre a été pris par lui.”
Subj + 被 + Doer + VP: 书 + 被他 + 拿走了. · Subj + 被 + Exécutant + VP : 书 + 被他 + 拿走了.
Know the boundary
- 书被拿走了 omits the doer when unnecessary or unknown.
- 被 is not limited to bad outcomes: 他被选为队长 is a positive example. Use a complete verb phrase for the intended event.
Know the boundary
- book书(passive: by)被to take away拿走(completed / change)了 omits the doer when unnecessary or unknown.
- (passive: by)被 is not limited to bad outcomes: he / him他被选为captain队长 is a positive example. Use a complete verb phrase for the intended event.
The doer after 被 is required and can never be left out. · L'exécutant après 被 est requis et ne peut jamais être omis.
The doer is optional: 书被拿走了 (the book was taken). · L'exécutant est optionnel : 书被拿走了 (le livre a été pris).
Every 被 sentence must describe an unfortunate event.
书被拿走了 omits the doer when unnecessary or unknown. 被 is not limited to bad outcomes: 他被选为队长 is a positive example. Use a complete verb phrase for the intended event. The book receives the action, while 他 names the doer.
Use the distinction
- The book receives the action, while 他 names the doer.
- 书被拿走了 omits the doer when unnecessary or unknown. 被 is not limited to bad outcomes: 他被选为队长 is a positive example. Use a complete verb phrase for the intended event.
Read the full reference: HSK 3 grammar — Sentence patterns.
Use the distinction
- The book receives the action, while he / him他 names the doer.
- book书(passive: by)被to take away拿走(completed / change)了 omits the doer when unnecessary or unknown. (passive: by)被 is not limited to bad outcomes: he / him他被选为captain队长 is a positive example. Use a complete verb phrase for the intended event.
Read the full reference: HSK 3 grammar — Sentence patterns.