The complement of state (2)

If the verb is a 离合词 (separable verb), its verbal half is repeated. If the verb takes an object, the object may move in front, or the verb may be repeated.

1. Separable verbs: repeat the verb

离合词 → repeat the verbal half + 得 + state

我(Wǒ)游(yóu)泳(yǒng)游(yóu)得(de)不(bú)快(kuài)。

I don't swim fast.

游(yóu)泳(yǒng)swim

游(yóu)the verbal half

泳(yǒng)the second half of the separable verb

游(yóu)得(de)不(bú)快(kuài)doesn't swim fast

游泳 + 游 + 得 + 不快

That is, the verbal half 游 is repeated.

2. Move the object in front

If the verb has an object, the object can be placed before the verb.

Object + verb + 得 + state

你(Nǐ)篮(lán)球(qiú)打(dǎ)得(de)怎(zěn)么(me)样(yàng)？

How well do you play basketball?

篮(lán)球(qiú)basketball

打(dǎ)play

打(dǎ)得(de)怎(zěn)么(me)样(yàng)how well does he play?

篮球 + 打 + 得 + 怎么样

That is, the object 篮球 has moved in front of the verb.

3. Repeat the verb

Instead of fronting the object, the verb may be repeated.

Verb + object + verb + 得 + state

白(Bái)家(Jiā)月(yuè)写(xiě)汉(Hàn)字(zì)写(xiě)得(de)很(hěn)好(hǎo)看(kàn)。

Bai Jiayue writes Chinese characters beautifully.

写(xiě)汉(Hàn)字(zì)write Chinese characters

写(xiě)write

写(xiě)得(de)很(hěn)好(hǎo)看(kàn)writes beautifully

写 + 汉字 + 写 + 得 + 很好看

The verb 写 is used twice.

Quick rule

离合词 + verbal half + 得 + state

游泳游得不快。— Doesn't swim fast.

Object + verb + 得 + state

篮球打得怎么样？— How well do you play basketball?

Verb + object + verb + 得 + state

写汉字写得很好看。— Writes Chinese characters beautifully.

Remember

The usual shape is “verb + 得 + state”. But when the verb has an object, 得 cannot follow the object directly.

So the forms used are: 写汉字写得很好看 or 汉字写得很好看