The complement of state (1)
The complement of state follows the verb and explains how the action is carried out.
It answers:
“how?”
“how well?”
Basic structure
Verb + 得 + adjective / adjective phrase
V + 得 + Adj
Here 得 links the verb to the part describing how the action goes.
1. Statements
我踢得还可以。
I play pretty well.
踢 + 得 + 还可以
play + how? + not bad
踢play football
得links the complement of state
还可以not bad
他们玩得很高兴。
They had a really good time.
玩 + 得 + 很高兴
玩play / hang out
得links the complement of state
很高兴very happily
That is, how did they play? — Very happily.
白家月跑得不快。
Bai Jiayue doesn't run fast.
跑 + 得 + 不快
跑run
得links the complement of state
不快not fast
2. The negative
To negate, 不 goes before the adjective.
Verb + 得 + 不 + adjective
跑得不快 — doesn't run fast.
不 goes before the adjective after 得, not before the verb:
跑 + 得 + 不 + 快
3. The question forms
Three question forms are used with the complement of state.
1) Add 吗 at the end.
Verb + 得 + adjective + 吗？
你跑得快吗？
Do you run fast?
2) The “adjective + 不 + adjective” form.
Verb + 得 + adjective + 不 + adjective？
他来得早不早？
Does he come early or not?
3) Asking with 怎么样.
Verb + 得 + 怎么样？
他们玩得怎么样？
How did they enjoy themselves?
Quick rule
Statement: V + 得 + Adj
Negative: V + 得 + 不 + Adj
Question: V + 得 + Adj + 吗？
or V + 得 + Adj + 不 + Adj？
or V + 得 + 怎么样？
跑得快 — run fast
跑得不快 — not run fast
玩得很高兴 — have a great time
踢得还可以 — play pretty well