Lessons 7–8: Subject-predicate predicate sentences (2) and notional passive sentences

Putting the object of an action at the start of the sentence as the subject: subject-predicate predicate sentences and passive sentences without a preposition.

Hanyu textbook · Hanyu 3 · Lesson 7 · Hanyu 3 · Lesson 8

我的护照你找到了没有？

Wǒ de hùzhào nǐ zhǎodào le méiyǒu?

Have you found my passport?

Explanation

Subject-predicate predicate sentences (2): a sentence that uses a subject-predicate phrase to explain or describe some object (the subject of the sentence) is also a kind of subject-predicate predicate sentence. Noun 1 in the sentence is usually the object of the verb.

Passive sentences: the subject in a Chinese sentence can be the one performing the action or the one receiving it. The former is an active sentence, the latter a passive sentence. When you want to emphasize or explain how the object of an action is affected, you can use a passive sentence: passive subject + verb + other elements.

Structure

1
大主语（名词1）小主语（名词2）动词
Noun 1 is usually the object of the verb.
- 足球你喜欢吗？
  Zúqiú nǐ xǐhuan ma?
  Do you like football?
- 饭我可以不吃，觉我可以不睡，工作我可以不干。
  Fàn wǒ kěyǐ bù chī, jiào wǒ kěyǐ bú shuì, gōngzuò wǒ kěyǐ bú gàn.
  I can go without eating, I can go without sleeping, and I can go without working.
- 我的护照你找到了没有？
  Wǒ de hùzhào nǐ zhǎodào le méiyǒu?
  Have you found my passport?
- 我的护照你放在哪儿了？
  Wǒ de hùzhào nǐ fàng zài nǎr le?
  Where did you put my passport?
- 这张唱片我一听完就还给你。
  Zhè zhāng chàngpiàn wǒ yì tīngwán jiù huán gěi nǐ.
  As soon as I finish listening to this record, I'll return it to you.
2
受事主语动词其他成分
The subject is the thing acted on (passive subject); it emphasizes how the object of an action is affected.
- 我的眼镜摔坏了。
  Wǒ de yǎnjìng shuāihuài le.
  My glasses fell and broke.
- 照片洗好了。
  Zhàopiàn xǐhǎo le.
  The photos have been developed.
- 我的护照找到了吗？
  Wǒ de hùzhào zhǎodào le ma?
  Has my passport been found?
- 她的字写得真不错。
  Tā de zì xiě de zhēn búcuò.
  Her handwriting is really beautiful.
- 今天的作业我已经做完了。
  Jīntiān de zuòyè wǒ yǐjīng zuòwán le.
  I've finished today's homework.
- 照相机我不小心摔坏了。
  Zhàoxiàngjī wǒ bù xiǎoxīn shuāihuài le.
  I accidentally dropped the camera and broke it.
- 我的自行车朋友借去了。
  Wǒ de zìxíngchē péngyou jièqù le.
  My bicycle has been borrowed by you.

Common mistakes

~~照相机我不小心坏了~~
照相机我不小心摔坏了
the verb 摔 is needed before the complement 坏
~~我已经完了今天的作业~~
今天的作业我已经做完了
~~上课完了我就去商店买衣服~~
上完课我就去商店买衣服。/ 下了课我就去商店买衣服
~~我的自行车朋友借了~~
我的自行车朋友借去了。/ 我的自行车让朋友借去了
~~这张唱片我一听完就来给你还~~
这张唱片我一听完就还给你

Practice

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