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(qǐng)to ask / to invite

让(ràng)to make someone do something / to let

叫(jiào)to 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(Wǒ)想(xiǎng)请(qǐng)你(nǐ)帮(bāng)个(ge)忙(máng)。

I would like to ask you for a favour.

我 + 想请 + 你 + 帮个忙 I + would like to ask + you + help out

我(wǒ)I

想(xiǎng)请(qǐng)would like to ask

你(nǐ)you

帮(bāng)个(ge)忙(máng)to give a hand

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

王(Wáng)老(lǎo)师(shī)让(ràng)我(wǒ)们(men)说(shuō)中(Zhōng)文(wén)。

Teacher Wang told us to speak Chinese.

王老师 + 让 + 我们 + 说中文 Teacher Wang + made / told + we + speak Chinese

王(Wáng)老(lǎo)师(shī)Teacher Wang

让(ràng)to make someone do something

我(wǒ)们(men)we

说(shuō)中(Zhōng)文(wén)to speak Chinese

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

妈(Mā)妈(ma)叫(jiào)孩(hái)子(zi)们(men)回(huí)家(jiā)。

Mum told the children to come home.

妈妈 + 叫 + 孩子们 + 回家 mum + told + children + go home

妈(mā)妈(ma)mum

叫(jiào)to tell / to order

孩(hái)子(zi)们(men)children

回(huí)家(jiā)to 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