Difference between revisions of "Degree complement"

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Degree complements, also known as "complements of degree" in English, are 程度补语 (literally, "degree complement") in Chinese. While most complements follow verbs, degree complements very often follow adjectives. They intensify or in some other way modify the degree of expression of the adjective (or verb).

Structure of degree complements

Degree complements can modify both verbs and adjectives, but remember, they always come after the word they modify. The chart below illustrates the structural pattern you should expect to see with degree complements. Note that the structural particle 得 is used in many cases, but not in every case.

Word Preceding Complement	Particle	Degree Complement	Example
Verb	得	很好	说得很好
	得	不好	说得不好
	得	不好	说得不好
	得	不好	说得不好
Adjective	得	很	好得很
	得	不得了	坏得不得了
		极了	好极了
		死了	累死了

When to use degree complements

List of the most common degree complements

Degree complements following adjectives

Degree complements following verbs

References

Sources and further reading

Grammar book: 外国人实用汉语语法(中英文对照) (pp. 284-292)
Oxford University website: Complement of degree 得
Yale University website: The Complement Of Degree

@@ Line 55: / Line 55: @@
 * Grammar book: [http://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B001J0ADWA&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B001J0ADWA 外国人实用汉语语法(中英文对照)] (pp. 284-292)
-* University website: [http://www.ctcfl.ox.ac.uk/Lang%20work/Grammar%20database/grammar_database1.htm#Complement%20of%20degree%20得 Complement of degree 得]
+* Oxford University website: [http://www.ctcfl.ox.ac.uk/Lang%20work/Grammar%20database/grammar_database1.htm#Complement%20of%20degree%20得 Complement of degree 得]
+* Yale University website: [http://comet.cls.yale.edu/mandarin/content/degree/grammar/Degree.htm The Complement Of Degree]
 [[Category:Complements]]