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Lesson

Complement of State (V得)

1. Explain it simply

Put 得 right after the verb, then an adjective: 他说得很好 (he speaks very well).

With an object, repeat the verb: S + V + O + V + 得 + adj, as in 姐姐唱歌唱得不错. The object can never come after 得.

Negate the adjective, not the verb: V + 得 + 不 + adj, as in 他跑得不快 (never 他不跑得快).

Ask with the adjective's positive-negative form: V + 得 + adj + 不 + adj, as in 他说得好不好?

2. Show examples

他说得很好。

Tā shuō de hěn hǎo.

He speaks very well.

V + 得 + adj

姐姐唱歌唱得不错。

Jiějie chànggē chàng de bùcuò.

Sandhi:Jiějie chànggē chàng de búcuò.

Older sister sings quite well.

repeat the verb after the object

他跑得不快。

Tā pǎo de bù kuài.

Sandhi:Tā pǎo de bú kuài.

He doesn't run fast.

negative: 得 + 不 + adj

你写汉字写得好不好?

Nǐ xiě Hànzì xiě de hǎo bù hǎo?

Sandhi:Nǐ xiě Hànzì xiě de hǎo bu hǎo?

Do you write Chinese characters well or not?

question: adj + 不 + adj

3. Share a tip

Keep 得 glued to the verb, and put the object before the second verb (说汉语说得好), never after 得. To say something is done poorly, negate the adjective (说得不好), not the verb.