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  3. Expressing passive voice with 给 ("gěi")

Expressing passive voice with 给 ("gěi")

给 gěi

Preposition
HSK 4

Structure

Receiver + 给 + The Doer + Verb Phrase Receiver + 被 + The Doer + 给 + Verb Phrase

Translations

  • marks the passive with 给

Definition

表示被动语态，通常用于口语中，强调主语被某人或某物施加动作。

Indicates passive voice, commonly used in spoken Chinese, emphasizing that the subject is acted upon by someone or something.

Usage

结构为：主语 + 给 + 施动者 + 动词 + 其他成分。否定形式用“没给”或“不被给”。

Structure: Subject + 给 + agent + verb + other elements. Negative form uses '没给' or '不(被)给'.

Examples

  • 1 我的手机给小偷偷走了。（My phone was stolen by a thief.）
  • 2 那本书给我弄丢了。（That book was lost by me.）
  • 3 窗户给风吹开了。（The window was blown open by the wind.）
  • 4 他给老师批评了一顿。（He was criticized by the teacher.）
  • 5 蛋糕给孩子们吃完了。（The cake was eaten up by the children.）
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