Pivotal sentences

In Chinese a 兼语句 (jiānyǔjù) is built from two verb phrases.

The object of the first verb is at the same time the subject of the second.

That is: The first action is directed at a person, and then that person performs the second action.

Basic structure

主语 + 请 / 让 / 叫 + 宾语 + 动词 / 动词性短语

Subject + 请 / 让 / 叫 + person + verb / verb phrase

请qǐngto ask / to invite

让ràngto make someone do something / to let

叫jiàoto tell someone to do something

Subject + Verb₁ + Object + Verb₂

The object belongs to the first verb, but is at the same time the doer of the second action.

For example: 我 + 请 + 你 + 帮个忙 I + ask + you + help out Here 你 is: the object of 请; the subject of 帮个忙.

我想请你帮个忙

我wǒI

想请xiǎng qǐngwould like to ask

你nǐyou

帮个忙bāng ge mángto give a hand

Here 你 is the object of the first verb and the doer of the second action.

王老师让我们说中文

王老师Wáng lǎoshīTeacher Wang

让ràngto make someone do something

我们wǒmenwe

说中文shuō Zhōngwénto speak Chinese

Here 我们 is: the object of 让; the subject of 说中文.

妈妈叫孩子们回家

妈妈māmamum

叫jiàoto tell / to order

孩子们háizimenchildren

回家huí jiāto go home

Here 孩子们 is: the object of 叫; the subject of 回家.

主语 + 请 / 让 / 叫 + 宾语 + 动词

Meaning: someone is asked, told or made to do something.

请你帮个忙 — to ask you for help 让我们说中文 — to tell us to speak Chinese 叫孩子们回家 — to tell the children to go home