Difference between revisions of "State complement"

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State complements describe an achieved state of an action. State complements are usually adjective phrases (adverb + adjective) but can take the form of verbal phrases, subject-predicate phrase or other complements. State complements that are adjective phrases often look the same as degree complements and thus often lumped together with degree complements in textbooks. However, often state complements take a very distinct form of complement (such as entire verb phrases that serve as state complements) which is why they are sometimes categorized as a distinct form of complement. State complement phrases can be quite complex, at times having entire complement phrases act as the state complement. It may be useful to think of more complex complement phrases as meaning "(verb) to the point of (complement)."
 
State complements describe an achieved state of an action. State complements are usually adjective phrases (adverb + adjective) but can take the form of verbal phrases, subject-predicate phrase or other complements. State complements that are adjective phrases often look the same as degree complements and thus often lumped together with degree complements in textbooks. However, often state complements take a very distinct form of complement (such as entire verb phrases that serve as state complements) which is why they are sometimes categorized as a distinct form of complement. State complement phrases can be quite complex, at times having entire complement phrases act as the state complement. It may be useful to think of more complex complement phrases as meaning "(verb) to the point of (complement)."
  
==Different Kinds of State Complements==
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== Adjective Phrases as State Complements ==
 
 
===Adjective Phrase State Complements===
 
  
 
In a state complement phrase, the verb must be followed by 得, and then the complement follows. The most common type of state complement, where the complement is an adjective phrase, is formed by placing the adjective phrase after 得.  
 
In a state complement phrase, the verb must be followed by 得, and then the complement follows. The most common type of state complement, where the complement is an adjective phrase, is formed by placing the adjective phrase after 得.  
  
==== Structure ====
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=== Structure ===
  
 
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==== Examples ====
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=== Examples ===
  
 
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===Phrases and other complements as State Complements===
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== Verb Phrases and other Complements as State Complements ==
  
Verb phrases (VP), subject-predicate phrases (SP) and other [[complements]] (CP) can also serve as complements of state. As with adjective phrase state complements they can describe a state that arose from the action of the main verb in the sentence. Some examples:
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Verb phrases (VP), subject-predicate phrases (SP) and other [[complements]] can also serve as complements of state. As with adjective phrase state complements, they can describe a state that arose from the action of the main verb in the sentence. Some examples:
  
 
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{| class="wikitable" style="width:65em"
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* 这 件 房间 <strong>满</strong> <em>放 不 下 其他 东西</em> 了 。 <span class="expl">(This example uses a [[potential complement]] phrase to express that state of the room.)</span><span class="trans">This room is filled to the point that you are unable to fit more stuff.</span>
|+
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* 他们 <strong>唱</strong>歌 <strong>唱</strong> <em>得 忘 了 时间</em> <span class="expl">(Here the state complement is a verb phrase and expresses the state to which the subject got caught up in their singing activities (probably at KTV).)</span><span class="trans">They sang to the point where they lost track of time.</span>
|-
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* 我 的 姐姐 <strong>吃</strong>饭 <strong>吃</strong> <em>得 满嘴流油</em> <span class="expl">(This state complement is also a verb phrase and expresses the resulting state of the subject's eating.)</span><span class="trans">My big sister ate to the point that her mouth was flowing with oil.</span>
!  Subject  !!    Verb    !! 得 !!  VP/SP/CP  !! Explanation
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* 太太 <strong>激动</strong> <em>得 热血沸腾</em> <span class="expl">(The state complement in this example is an idiomatic phrase that describes the state of anger the subject has arrived at.)</span><span class="trans">The wife was agitated to point of burning rage.</span>
|-
 
| 这件房间 || 满 || || 放不下其他东西了 ||<span style="font-size:0.7em;"> <span class="spaced"> This example uses a [[potential complement]] phrase to express that state of the room: "This room is filled to the point that you are unable to fit more stuff." </span></span>
 
|-
 
| 他们 || 唱歌唱 || || 忘了时间 ||<span style="font-size:0.7em;"> <span class="spaced"> Here the state complement is a verb phrase and expresses the state to which the subject got caught up in their singing activities (probably at KTV) "They sang to the point where they lost track of time."</span></span>
 
|-
 
| 我的姐姐 || 吃饭吃 || || 满嘴流油 || <span style="font-size:0.7em;"> <span class="spaced">This state complement is also a verb phrase and expresses the resulting state of the subject's eating: "My sister ate to the point that her mouth was flowing with oil." </span></span>
 
|-
 
| 太太 || 激动 || || 热血沸腾 ||<span style="font-size:0.7em;"> <span class="spaced"> The state complement in this example is an idiomatic phrase that describes the state of anger the subject has arrived at: "The wife was agitated to point of burning rage."</span></span>
 
|}
 
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
==State Complements in Questions==
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== State Complements in Questions ==
  
 
You can form questions with sentences containing result complements just as you would with any other sentence:
 
You can form questions with sentences containing result complements just as you would with any other sentence:
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Some examples:
 
Some examples:
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==References and Further Reading==
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== References and Further Reading ==
  
===Books===
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=== Books ===
  
 
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2)]] (pp. 15-6) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561911297/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561911297 →buy]
 
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2)]] (pp. 15-6) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561911297/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561911297 →buy]
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*[[40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课上册)]] (p. 141)[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001FTL8D8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001FTL8D8&linkCode=as2&tag=allset-20 →buy]
 
*[[40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课上册)]] (p. 141)[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001FTL8D8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001FTL8D8&linkCode=as2&tag=allset-20 →buy]
  
===Websites===
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=== Websites ===
  
 
* About Chinese Language, XCN Chinese [http://www.xcn-chinese.com/app/showarticle.asp?id=2169&includeid=&siteid= The Complement of State]
 
* About Chinese Language, XCN Chinese [http://www.xcn-chinese.com/app/showarticle.asp?id=2169&includeid=&siteid= The Complement of State]
  
 
[[Category:Complements]]
 
[[Category:Complements]]

Revision as of 03:47, 23 June 2015

Also known as: 状态补语 (zhuàngtài bǔyǔ), 情态补语 (qíngtài bǔyǔ) and complement of state.

State complements describe an achieved state of an action. State complements are usually adjective phrases (adverb + adjective) but can take the form of verbal phrases, subject-predicate phrase or other complements. State complements that are adjective phrases often look the same as degree complements and thus often lumped together with degree complements in textbooks. However, often state complements take a very distinct form of complement (such as entire verb phrases that serve as state complements) which is why they are sometimes categorized as a distinct form of complement. State complement phrases can be quite complex, at times having entire complement phrases act as the state complement. It may be useful to think of more complex complement phrases as meaning "(verb) to the point of (complement)."

Adjective Phrases as State Complements

In a state complement phrase, the verb must be followed by 得, and then the complement follows. The most common type of state complement, where the complement is an adjective phrase, is formed by placing the adjective phrase after 得.

Structure

Subject + Verb + 得 + Complement

Examples

  • 得 很 晚
  • 他们 得 很 快乐
  • 马 先生 得 不 好

If the verb taking a complement also has an object, you can repeat the verb: once for the object, then once for the complement:

  • 校园 得 很 晚 了 。
  • 汉字 得 很 慢

Verb Phrases and other Complements as State Complements

Verb phrases (VP), subject-predicate phrases (SP) and other complements can also serve as complements of state. As with adjective phrase state complements, they can describe a state that arose from the action of the main verb in the sentence. Some examples:

  • 这 件 房间 得 放 不 下 其他 东西 了 。 (This example uses a potential complement phrase to express that state of the room.)This room is filled to the point that you are unable to fit more stuff.
  • 他们 得 忘 了 时间(Here the state complement is a verb phrase and expresses the state to which the subject got caught up in their singing activities (probably at KTV).)They sang to the point where they lost track of time.
  • 我 的 姐姐 得 满嘴流油(This state complement is also a verb phrase and expresses the resulting state of the subject's eating.)My big sister ate to the point that her mouth was flowing with oil.
  • 太太 激动 得 热血沸腾(The state complement in this example is an idiomatic phrase that describes the state of anger the subject has arrived at.)The wife was agitated to point of burning rage.

State Complements in Questions

You can form questions with sentences containing result complements just as you would with any other sentence:

Some examples:

  • 你 来 得 很早 吗 ?Did you come very early?
  • 你 住 得 很好 吗 ?Do you live well?
  • 谁 玩 得 最 高兴 ?Who plays so happily?
  • 什么地方 发展 得 很 好 ?What place is very developed?
  • 工作 得 好 不好?Is the work good?
  • 衣服 洗 得 干净 不 干净?Is the clothing washed clean?

References and Further Reading

Books

Websites