Lessons 11, 15, 19: Descriptive complement (2): V + 得 + verb phrase

A verb phrase linked with 得 serves as a descriptive complement, describing the state of the person performing (or affected by) the action.

Hanyu textbook · Hanyu 4 · Lesson 11 · Hanyu 4 · Lesson 15 · Hanyu 4 · Lesson 19

他气得大叫起来。

Tā qì de dà jiào qǐlai.

He was so angry that he shouted out loud.

Explanation

A Chinese verb phrase can be combined with “得” to serve as a descriptive complement to the predicate verb, describing the state of the person performing the action (or the person affected by it).

Structure: V/A + 得 + verb phrase. The readings in the textbook also have familiar 得 + state patterns such as 雨下得很大, 马车跑得飞快, 我的马跑得很快.

Structure

1
V / A得động từ ngữ (bổ ngữ trạng thái)
Use “得” to link a verb phrase as a descriptive complement.
- 他感动得不知道说什么好。
  Tā gǎndòng de bù zhīdào shuō shénme hǎo.
  He was so moved that he didn't know what to say.
- 她们高兴得跳啊，唱啊。
  Tāmen gāoxìng de tiào a, chàng a.
  They were so happy that they danced and sang.
- 他看球赛看得忘了吃饭。
  Tā kàn qiúsài kàn de wàng le chīfàn.
  He was so absorbed in watching the soccer game that he forgot to eat.
- 他气得大叫起来。
  Tā qì de dà jiào qǐlai.
  He was so angry that he shouted out loud.

Usage notes

In the example 他看球赛看得忘了吃饭, the verb 看 is repeated before 得 (看球赛看得……).

Practice

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