The resultative complement
In Chinese certain verbs or adjectives follow another verb and show what result the action ended in.
Basic structure
Verb + resultative complement
Meaning: the action was carried out and produced a particular result.
Examples
菜都做好了
菜càithe food
都dōuall
做zuòdo / prepare
好hǎogood / become ready
了lemarks the completed action
Here 好 states the result of the action.
我吃完饭了
我wǒI
吃chīeat
完wánfinish
饭fànmeal
了lemarks the completed action
Here 完 shows that the eating was finished.
小雪今天来晚了
小雪XiǎoxuěXiaoxue
今天jīntiāntoday
来láicome
晚wǎnlate
了lemarks that the state came about
Here 晚 states the result of the coming — that it was late.
The negative
In the negative, “没（有）” goes before the verb and “了” is dropped.
没（有）+ verb + resultative complement
我没吃完饭
没méidid not
吃完chī wánfinish eating
饭fànmeal
小雪没来晚
没méidid not
来晚lái wǎncome late
The question forms
Three question forms are used with a resultative complement.
Form 1: add “了吗？” at the end of the sentence.
Sentence + 了吗？
你吃完饭了吗？
Form 2: add “（了）没有？” at the end of the sentence.
Sentence +（了）没有？
小雪来晚了没有？
Form 3: the affirmative and negative of the verb are used together.
Verb + 没 + verb + resultative complement？
你学没学会？
学xuéstudy
没méinot
学会xué huìlearn / master
Quick rule
Affirmative:
Verb + resultative complement + 了
做好了 — got it ready
吃完了 — finished eating
来晚了 — came late
Negative:
没（有）+ verb + resultative complement
没吃完 — didn't finish eating
没来晚 — didn't come late
Question:
……了吗？
or
……（了）没有？
or
verb + 没 + verb + resultative complement？