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HSK 2 Complements of State (状态补语1): Verb + 得 + Adjectival Phrase
The complement of state with 得 (de) follows a verb to evaluate, describe, or state the habitual quality or resultative state of an action. Unlike English adverbs that can follow objects directly, Chinese requires 得 to attach immediately to the verb.
弟弟跑得很快。
Basic affirmative structure where the adjectival phrase 很快 (hěn kuài) evaluates the action 跑 (pǎo).
× 哥哥做饭得特别好。
Incorrect: The object 饭 (fàn) cannot stand between the verb 做 (zuò) and the particle 得. Repeat the verb as shown in the correct replacement.
Corrected example: 哥哥做饭做得特别好。
Read the full explanation and examples
What Is the Complement of State?
In the official HSK 2 grammar outline, the primary complement of state (状态补语1) is defined by the pattern Verb + 得 + Adjectival Phrase (动词+得+形容词性短语). In a complete Chinese sentence, a complement sits after the main verb to provide additional information about the predicate.
This structure describes or evaluates an action’s state, degree or quality, whether for one occasion, an ongoing event or a general skill. 得 (de, neutral tone) introduces the description after the verb. Compare post-verbal 跑得很快 with pre-verbal 快快地跑: the placement changes how the description is organized, without proving that one action was intentional and the other was not.
弟弟跑得很快。
Basic affirmative structure where the adjectival phrase 很快 (hěn kuài) evaluates the action 跑 (pǎo).
Building the Adjectival Phrase, Negation, and Questions
An adjectival phrase can be simple or expanded. 很快 and 特别好 are useful beginner forms, but a single adjective is also possible: 他说得对 and 干得好！ are complete. The outline term 形容词性短语 describes a grammatical function; it does not impose a minimum word count or require 很 in every sentence.
To negate the degree description, put 不 inside the complement: 睡得不晚. To ask about that description, use 写得好不好 or 写得好吗. Negation can have a wider scope in another sentence, as in 这次我没考得很好 (“I did not do very well this time”). 很 is not automatically forbidden in negative or question sentences.
我昨天睡得不晚。
Negation uses 不 (bù) inside the complement after 得, rather than before the main verb 睡 (shuì).
他写得好不好？
An affirmative-negative question is formed inside the adjectival phrase after 得.
Word Order Restrictions with Direct Objects
The most important position restriction in this pattern is that the structural particle 得 must attach directly to the verb. A noun object cannot stand between the verb and 得. This also applies to separable verbs (离合词) such as 做饭 (zuò fàn, to cook) or 游泳 (yóu yǒng, to swim), where the second character is grammatically an object.
- Verb repetition (verb copying): State the Verb + Object first, and then immediately repeat the Verb + 得 + Adjectival Phrase.
- Object fronting: Move the Object before the verb (either after the subject or to the start of the clause) so the verb sits right next to 得.
哥哥做饭做得特别好。
Because 做饭 (zuò fàn) is a verb-object phrase, the verb 做 (zuò) is repeated before 得.
× 哥哥做饭得特别好。
Incorrect: The object 饭 (fàn) cannot stand between the verb 做 (zuò) and the particle 得. Repeat the verb as shown in the correct replacement.
Corrected example: 哥哥做饭做得特别好。
她起得非常早，汉语也说得很好。
The second clause fronts the object 汉语 (Hànyǔ) before the verb 说 (shuō) so that 得 stays directly attached to the verb.
Distinguishing State Complements from Neighbouring Complements
At the HSK 2 level, learners encounter several distinct complement categories after a verb. Understanding what question each complement answers prevents confusion during sentence construction.
- Complement of State (状态补语1): Uses Verb + 得 + Adjectival Phrase to evaluate how an action goes or the resulting state of the subject or action (for example, running fast or cooking well).
- Directional Complements (趋向补语): Attach movement verbs directly after the main verb without 得 to indicate the physical path or direction of an action (such as moving inward, upward, or back toward the speaker).
- Quantitative Complements (数量补语): Follow a verb or adjective without 得 to measure exact duration, frequency, or comparative difference, answering 'how long' or 'by how much' rather than giving an adjectival evaluation.
Frequently asked questions
Why is an adverb like 很 (hěn) usually needed after 得?
很快 is a useful neutral way to describe running, but 很 is not compulsory after 得. 他说得对 and 干得好！ work with a single adjective. Choose the complement wording for the intended evaluation and context.
Why does 不 (bù) go after 得 instead of before the verb?
In 睡得不晚, 不 negates “late”, not the act of sleeping. Other negation scopes are possible: 没考得很好 negates the overall claim of performing well. A 得 complement can also appear in a prediction, request or hypothetical sentence, so it does not prove that an action has already happened.
Do I always have to repeat the verb when there is an object?
No. Repeating the verb is very common, especially with separable verbs like 做饭 or 游泳, but you can also move the object before the verb (as in 汉语说得很好) so that the verb still directly precedes 得.
