HSK 3Complements

Degree Complement with 得

得 after a verb introduces a degree complement describing how an action is performed.

Pattern

Subject + Verb + 得 + Complement

Explanation

The degree complement uses 得 after a verb to describe how well, how fast, or to what extent an action is done. The complement can be an adjective or a more complex phrase.

If the verb has an object, the verb must be repeated: Subject + Verb + Object + Verb + 得 + Complement. For example, 他说中文说得很好.

Examples

她跑得很快。

Tā pǎo de hěn kuài.

She runs very fast.

他说中文说得很流利。

Tā shuō Zhōngwén shuō de hěn liúlì.

He speaks Chinese very fluently.

今天冷得我不想出门。

Jīntiān lěng de wǒ bù xiǎng chūmén.

Today is so cold that I don't want to go out.

Common Mistakes

Wrong

她跑很快。

Correct

她跑得很快。

得 is required between the verb and the degree complement.

Wrong

他说中文得很好。

Correct

他说中文说得很好。

When there is an object, repeat the verb before 得.

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Degree Complement with 得 — Chinese Grammar | HSK 3