Object Semantics: Existential & Affected Objects
Not every post-verb noun plays the same role.
存在宾语 (existential object) appears in 存现句 (existence sentences): Place/Time + V(着/了) + Number+Classifier + Noun. The noun is new, indefinite information — the sentence answers 'what is/appears there?'
墙上挂着一幅画。(On the wall hangs a painting.)
受事宾语 (affected/patient object) appears in ordinary sentences: the object is definite, known, and changes because of the action. It can usually be rephrased with 把.
他把衣服洗干净了。 = 他洗干净了衣服。
Test: if the noun is brand-new info at a place, it's 存在 (never front it with 把); if it's a known thing undergoing change, it's 受事 (can front it with 把).
Worked examples
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 前面走过来一个人。 | Qián miàn zǒu guò lái yí gè rén. | A person walked over from up ahead. | 存现句: Place (前面) + V + directional complement + indefinite Num-Cl-N (一个人) — new information appearing. |
| 桌子上放着几本书。 | Zhuō zi shàng fàng zhe jǐ běn shū. | On the table there are several books. | 存现句 with 着 (static existence): Place + V着 + indefinite object (几本书). |
| 他洗干净了那件衣服。 | Tā xǐ gān jìng le nà jiàn yī fu. | He washed that piece of clothing clean. | 受事宾语: 那件衣服 is definite and changes state (dirty → clean); could be rephrased 他把那件衣服洗干净了。 |
| 教室里坐着很多学生，老师已经把作业发下去了。 | Jiào shì lǐ zuò zhe hěn duō xué shēng, lǎo shī yǐ jīng bǎ zuò yè fā xià qù le. | Many students are sitting in the classroom; the teacher has already handed out the homework. | Combines both: 很多学生 = existential object (new info, place-fronted); 作业 = affected object (definite, fronted with 把). |
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