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兼语句 (请/让)

RuleSubject + V1 (qing/rang/jiao) + pivot + V2: one noun is both the object of V1 and the subject of V2.

Curiosity

In "I ask him to come," "him" is both the one asked and the one who comes. How do you say it in one sentence?

Intuition

In a pivotal sentence one noun holds two roles. The object of the first verb (qing/rang/jiao) becomes the subject of the second verb at once. That noun is the hinge linking the two verbs.

Visualization

Add V2 lai to wo qing ta (I ask him) → wo qing ta lai (I ask him to come). ta is the object of qing and the subject of lai.

V1 + pivot (incomplete)
subjectpivot verb (ask/make)pivot (object of V1 = subject of V2)
V2 added (ta is subject of lai)
subjectpivot verb (ask/make)pivot (object of V1 = subject of V2)verb 2

Essence

Subject + V1 + pivot + V2 (+ ...). Common V1: qing (request), rang (let/make), jiao (tell), shi (cause), pai (dispatch). The first verb carries a causative or requesting sense. The pivot appears once and holds both roles.

Examples

我请他来我家。
I invite him to come to my home.
老师让我们多读书。
The teacher makes us read more.
妈妈叫我早点回家。
Mom tells me to come home early.

Mini-quiz

Which has the correct order for "the teacher has him answer"?

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