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HSK 2.0 Level 5+ HSK 3.0 Level 6+ 6 min read

把 with a Cause as Subject: 这件事把我累坏了

In advanced 把 sentences the subject can be a thing or event (一场大雨把衣服淋湿了), and the object after 把 can be the person who ends up laughing, worrying or tired (这个笑话把大家都逗笑了).

Pattern

thing / event + 把 + object + verb + result ｜ cause + 把 + person (who acts or feels) + verb + result

The subject of a 把 sentence does not have to be a person: weather, news or an event can cause the change (风把门吹开了). The object after 把 can also be the person who then does or feels something: 这个笑话把大家都逗笑了 means the joke made everyone laugh. The verb never stands alone: it is followed by a result such as 坏了 or 住了, a phrase like 了一跳, or a 得-phrase.

这几天的考试把他累坏了。

When to use 把 with a Cause as Subject: 这件事把我累坏了

Type 1: the subject is a thing or an event, not a person: 一场大雨把我的衣服都淋湿了, 风把门吹开了. Nobody acts on purpose; the cause simply brings about the result.

一场大雨把我的衣服都淋湿了。

A downpour soaked my clothes.

风把门吹开了。

The wind blew the door open.

这个笑话把大家都逗笑了。

The joke made everyone laugh.

这道题把全班同学都难住了。

This question stumped the whole class.

Common traps

  • Always add a result after the verb: 把他累坏了, not 把他累.
  • In type 2 the person after 把 is the one who laughs, worries or gets tired, not someone who is handled.
  • Don’t use 被 and 把 in the same clause: 风把门吹开了 or 门被风吹开了.

Targeted drill

Practice this exact pattern before moving on.

这个笑话 大家都逗笑了

The joke made everyone laugh
Fill in the missing piece, then press Enter

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