Verb + 得 + complement
HSK 3- Complements
Structure (结构 jiégòu)
Meaning (意思 yìsi)
Uses the particle 得 to connect a verb with a complement, in order to describe or evaluate how an action is performed.
Explanation (解释 jiěshì)
This structure is used to evaluate or describe an action. 得 acts as a bridge connecting the verb (the action) to the complement (a remark about that action).
The complement is typically an adjective such as 好 (good), 快 (fast), or 漂亮 (beautiful). Degree adverbs like 很, 真, or 太 may be added before the adjective.
When the sentence has an object, you must repeat the verb using the structure: Subject + Verb + Object + Verb + 得 + Complement. For example: 他写汉字写得很好.
Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)
- 他说得很好。繁: 他說得很好。Tā shuō de hěn hǎo.
He speaks very well.
- 你跑得真快！Nǐ pǎo de zhēn kuài!
You really run fast!
- 她唱歌唱得很好听。繁: 她唱歌唱得很好聽。Tā chàng gē chàng de hěn hǎotīng.
She sings very beautifully.
- 弟弟汉字写得太漂亮了。繁: 弟弟漢字寫得太漂亮了。Dìdi Hànzì xiě de tài piàoliang le.
My younger brother writes Chinese characters beautifully.
- 我们昨天玩得很高兴。繁: 我們昨天玩得很高興。Wǒmen zuótiān wán de hěn gāoxìng.
We had a lot of fun playing yesterday.
Common mistakes
- Wrong:他做饭很好吃。Correct:他做饭做得很好吃。
Must use 得 to connect the action "cook rice" (做饭) with the comment "delicious" (好吃). When there is an object, the verb must be repeated.
- Wrong:我跑很快。Correct:我跑得很快。
得 is required to connect the verb 跑 (run) with the descriptive complement 很快 (very fast).