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tā bǎ wǒ de diànnǎo jièzǒu le.

他tā　把bǎ　我wǒ　的de　电脑diànnǎo　借走jièzǒu　了le。tā bǎ wǒ de diànnǎo jièzǒu le.
He borrowed my computer and took it away.
FromLesson 10inHardcore Chinese
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Questions & Answers about tā bǎ wǒ de diànnǎo jièzǒu le.

Why use 把 (bǎ) here? What does it add compared with a plain SVO sentence?
  • 把 lets you front the object and highlight how it was affected. Pattern: Subject + 把 + definite object + Verb (often with a result/complement/aspect).
  • Here, 他把我的电脑借走了 emphasizes the outcome: your computer ended up gone from here.
  • Without 把, you can still say it, but the focus is less on “disposing of” the object.
Can I say this without 把?

Yes:

  • 他借走了我的电脑。 (Natural; same meaning and emphasis on “took it away.”)
  • 他借了我的电脑。 (Just “borrowed my computer,” doesn’t highlight the “away” result as strongly.) Using 把 is a stylistic choice to spotlight the affected object and the result.
What does 走 add to 借? How is it different from 借, 借去, 借来, 借到?
  • 借: to borrow/lend (neutral).
  • 借走: borrow and take it away from here; emphasizes removal.
  • 借去: similar to 借走, directionally “away”; a bit more formal/regional.
  • 借来: borrow and bring here. Example: 他把你的电脑借来了 (“brought it here”).
  • 借到: emphasizes successful obtaining. Example: 我终于借到了那本书. Rule of thumb: 走 = away, 来 = toward the speaker, 到 = successfully obtained.
Is 了 here the perfective aspect 了? Could/should there be another 了 at the end?
  • In 借走了, 了 is the perfective marker (completed action).
  • You don’t add another 了 at the very end; this one already sits at sentence end and does the job.
  • Contrast:
    • Affirmation of a finished event: 他把我的电脑借走了。
    • Intention/command (no perfective): 他要把我的电脑借走。/ 别把我的电脑借走！
How do I negate or ask questions with this sentence?
  • Negative (use 没/没有 and drop 了): 他没(有)把我的电脑借走。
  • Yes–no (with 吗): 他把我的电脑借走了吗？
  • A–not–A: 他把我的电脑借走了没有/没？ or 他借没借走我的电脑？
What’s the passive version?
  • 我的电脑被他借走了。 Focus shifts to the computer as the affected party.
  • Colloquial passive with 给 is also heard: 我的电脑给他借走了。 (Informal.)
Is 借 ambiguous between “borrow” and “lend”? How do I avoid confusion?

Yes, 借 by itself can be ambiguous; disambiguate with patterns:

  • A 借给 B 东西 = A lends something to B. Example: 他把他的电脑借给了我。
  • A 向/跟 B 借 东西 = A borrows something from B. Example: 他向我借了电脑。 Your sentence with 借走 and the object 我的电脑 naturally reads as “he borrowed it (from me) and took it away.”
Could I say 他把我的电脑借了 (without 走)?

It’s grammatical but feels incomplete or less natural because 把-sentences typically want a clear result, direction, or complement. More natural options:

  • 他借了我的电脑。 (no 把)
  • 他把我的电脑借给别人了。 (gives a clear result/recipient)
  • 他把我的电脑借走了。 (result: taken away)
Why is 的 used after 我? Can I drop it and say 我电脑?
  • 的 marks possession: 我的电脑 = “my computer.”
  • Dropping 的 is common with close kinship/body parts (我妈, 我手) or set phrases. For ordinary objects like 电脑, 我的电脑 is standard. 我电脑 sounds dialectal or very casual; avoid it in standard Mandarin.
Do I need a measure word for 电脑? Which one?
  • When just referring to “my computer,” no measure word is needed: 我的电脑.
  • When counting/specifying: use 台. Examples:
    • 我的一台电脑 (“one of my computers”)
    • 他把我的一台电脑借走了。
Where do time/place words go with a 把 sentence?
  • Time usually goes before the subject or after it but before 把:
    • 昨天他把我的电脑借走了。 / 他昨天把我的电脑借走了。
  • Place phrases often go before 把 or as prepositional phrases:
    • 他在办公室把我的电脑借走了。
    • 他把我的电脑从我这里借走了。 Avoid: 他把我的电脑昨天借走了 (sounds awkward).
How does this differ from 他借走了我的电脑 in nuance?
  • 他把我的电脑借走了 puts 我的电脑 up front and highlights its fate (classic “disposal” focus).
  • 他借走了我的电脑 is a neutral SVO order; focus is more on the action itself. Both are natural; the 把 version sounds a bit more object/result-focused.
Is 借走 the most natural choice? How about 拿走 or 带走?
  • 借走 is natural when the means is “borrowing.”
  • 拿走 = “take away (by picking it up),” doesn’t imply permission; could imply he just took it.
  • 带走 = “take along (carry away),” often used when leaving with the item. If you want to stress it was a loan, 借走 is best.
Any pronunciation tips (tones, sandhi, neutral tones)?
  • 把 bǎ (3rd) + 我 wǒ (3rd): 3–3 becomes 2–3 in speech, so pronounce it like bá wǒ.
  • 的 de and aspect 了 le are neutral tone here.
  • 电脑 diànnǎo is 4–3; make sure the third tone on nǎo dips appropriately unless followed by another 3rd tone.
How would I politely say “Could I borrow your computer?” and “Could you lend me your computer?”
  • Borrow: 我可以借一下你的电脑吗？ / 能借用一下你的电脑吗？ (借用 is a bit more formal/polite)
  • Lend: 你可以把你的电脑借给我吗？ / 能把电脑借给我一下吗？

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