jiānyǔ jù
Pivotal sentence (兼语句)
A pivotal sentence has one person who is both the object of the first verb and the subject of the second verb.
Anchor example
老师让我们读课文。
Lǎoshī ràng wǒmen dú kèwén.
The teacher asked us to read the text.
HSK 2
HSK 2
1
1 structures
10
10 exercises
Lesson summary
A pivotal sentence has one person who is both the object of the first verb and the subject of the second verb.
Use this pattern with verbs such as 让, 请, 叫 to ask, invite, or tell someone to do something. In 老师让我们读课文, 我们 is the person the teacher acts on, and also the person who reads. Do not add 和 between the two verbs, and keep the person before the second action.
Grammar pattern
Subject + 让/请/叫 + person + verb phrase
Ask, invite, or tell someone to do something.
老师让我们读课文。
Lǎoshī ràng wǒmen dú kèwén.
The teacher asked us to read the text.
妈妈叫我早点回家。
Māma jiào wǒ zǎodiǎn huí jiā.
Mom told me to come home earlier.
他请朋友来吃饭。
Tā qǐng péngyou lái chī fàn.
He invited friends to come eat.
Fill in the blank:
