Alternation ‘BEI Alternation’ (Coded)

The Mandarin BEI construction is used to front an object in an SVO structure to a topic-like subject position so as to highlight a passive meaning of adversity, with an optional expression of the agent. To stress the adverse result or effect of an action denoted by the verb, a complement is often used to follow the verb. And this condition or quality renders some unqualified cases of BEI Alternation, as held by some linguists.

Verb Meaning Verb form Basic coding frame Derived coding frame Occurs Comment # Ex.