Pivotal Sentences 2
兼语句2
Use pivotal sentences to express praise/criticism and to assign titles or roles
In a pivotal sentence (兼语句), the object of the first verb simultaneously serves as the subject of the second verb. This lesson covers two new subtypes: (1) verbs expressing praise or criticism, and (2) verbs assigning titles, definitions, or roles.
In HSK 3 you learned basic pivotal sentences with 让, 请, and 叫. Now you expand to sentences where the first verb expresses an emotional evaluation (praise/blame) or a naming/selecting action. The "pivot" — the noun that is both object and subject — is the key to understanding these structures.
Lesson Targets
Podcast
Podcast: Pivotal Sentences 2 (兼语句2)
Listen to Jason & Amy explain the 兼语句2 pattern
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Understanding 兼语句2
Pivotal sentences are one of the most distinctive structures in Chinese grammar. You already know the basics from HSK 3: 妈妈让我去买菜 where 我 is both the object of 让 and the subject of 去买菜. Now at HSK 4, you encounter two more sophisticated subtypes. The first subtype uses verbs of emotional evaluation — 表扬 (praise), 批评 (criticize), 感谢 (thank), 怪 (blame). These verbs judge someone for doing something: 老师表扬他帮助同学 means the teacher praises him AND he helped classmates — 他 pivots between both clauses. The second subtype involves naming, defining, or selecting: 大家称他为先生 (Everyone calls him "sir"), 同学们选他当班长 (The classmates elected him class monitor). In these sentences, the pivot noun receives a title or role through connectors like 做, 为, 当, or 是. Mastering these patterns will help you express complex social interactions in a single, elegant sentence.
Key Points
- 表扬/批评 type: Subject + praise/criticize verb + Person + action that caused the praise/criticism.
- 称谓/定义 type: Subject + call/select verb + Person + 做/为/当/是 + role or title.
- Common first verbs for praise/blame: 表扬, 批评, 感谢, 怪, 骂.
- Common first verbs for naming/selecting: 叫, 称(呼), 说, 收, 选, 认.
- The linking words 做, 为, 当, 是 connect the pivot noun to its role or title.
- 收……做…… means "to take someone as" — 王教授收我做研究生 (Professor Wang took me on as a graduate student).
- These sentences cannot be split into two independent clauses without losing meaning — the pivot is essential.
In Chinese schools and workplaces, public praise (表扬) and criticism (批评) are common and culturally accepted practices. A teacher might publicly praise a student in front of the class, and a manager might openly critique an employee in a meeting. Understanding pivotal sentences with these verbs helps you navigate these social dynamics.
Key Vocabulary
Example Sentences
老师表扬他帮助同学。
The teacher praised him for helping classmates.
Praise + reason pivotal sentence
妈妈总是批评我不整理房间。
Mom always criticizes me for not tidying my room.
Criticism + reason pivotal sentence
大家都称他为先生。
Everyone calls him "sir."
老师们都说她是好学生。
All the teachers say she is a good student.
王教授收我做研究生。
Professor Wang took me on as a graduate student.
同学们都选他当班长。
The classmates all elected him class monitor.
经理感谢大家加班完成了项目。
The manager thanked everyone for working overtime to finish the project.
他们认我做哥哥。
They accepted me as their older brother.
Common Mistakes
Do not insert 的 between the pivot noun and the second verb. The pivot noun directly serves as the subject of the second clause without any marker.
With 选 (elect/choose), use 当 or 做 to connect to the role, not 是. 是 is used with 说 or 称 type verbs, not 选.
In pivotal sentences, do not add 因为 before the second clause. The reason is expressed directly through the pivot structure without a conjunction.
Practice Exercises
Tips & Tricks
Think of the pivot noun as wearing two hats: it is the object of verb 1 and the subject of verb 2 at the same time.
For praise/blame verbs, the second clause always tells you WHY the person is being praised or blamed.
Memorize common pairings: 称……为, 选……当, 收……做, 认……做, 说……是.
Practice by describing your school or workplace: who got praised, who got elected, who got criticized.
Homework
Write four pivotal sentences: two using praise/criticism verbs (表扬, 批评, 感谢, 怪) and two using naming/selecting verbs (称, 选, 收, 认). For each sentence, underline the pivot noun.