兼語句 (pivotal sentences) have a noun that serves as both the object of the first verb and the subject of the second verb.
Structure: Subject1 + V1 + Pivot (Object/Subject) + V2
The teacher let us go home.
Common pivotal verbs:
| Verb | Meaning | Example |
|------|---------|---------|
| 請 | invite/ask | 請你坐 (please sit) |
| 讓 | let/make | 讓我想想 (let me think) |
| 叫 | tell/have | 叫他來 (tell him to come) |
| 使 | cause | 使人感動 (makes people moved) |
| 派 | send | 派他去 (send him to go) |
Compared to serial verb construction:
• Pivotal: 我請他吃飯 (I invite him to eat - he is both object and subject)
• Serial: 我去吃飯 (I go eat - same subject)
Pivotal sentence: NP1 + V1 + NP2 + V2
- 我請他吃飯 (I invite him to eat)
- NP2 is object of V1, subject of V2
Common V1: 請, 讓, 叫, 使
- 讓他走 (let him go)
NP2 "pivots" between two verbs
I invite you to eat.
Mom makes me do homework.
Tell him to come in.
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