得 plus a Subject-Predicate Clause in Chinese
动词/形容词＋得＋主谓短语
A state complement after 得 may contain its own explicit subject and predicate, describing a consequence of the first state. This differs from a simple verb-phrase complement because the material after 得 forms a miniature clause, such as 肚子疼 or 人头痛. The internal subject must precede its predicate.
Published July 23, 2026
Reviewed July 23, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
Predicate + 得 + Subject + Predicate
Read the structure
A state complement after 得 may contain its own explicit subject and predicate, describing a consequence of the first state. This differs from a simple verb-phrase complement because the material after 得 forms a miniature clause, such as 肚子疼 or 人头痛. The internal subject must precede its predicate. Keep the model Predicate + 得 + Subject + Predicate visible while you compare each sentence.
我早上没吃饭，饿得肚子疼。
I skipped breakfast and was so hungry that my stomach hurt.
Choose the right context
Name a body part affected by a state: 我饿得肚子疼。 Name people affected by an environment: 房间热得人头痛。 Describe a visible result with its own subject: 她哭得眼睛都红了。
房间里热得人头痛。
The room is so hot that it gives people headaches.
Respect the boundary
Do not move the embedded subject after its predicate. Do not replace 得 with 的 between the main predicate and clause. Do not analyze the embedded subject as the object of the first adjective or intransitive verb.
我饿得疼肚子。
(I was hungry so hurt stomach.)
Repair the pattern
The embedded subject follows its predicate: The complement is the subject-predicate clause 肚子疼. Its subject 肚子 must come before its predicate 疼. The complement marker is omitted before the embedded clause: 得 is required to introduce 眼睛都红了 as the state or extent complement of 哭.
我饿得肚子疼。
Use the repaired structure without changing the intended meaning.
02 / MAP
Read the Sentence
Read from left to right and notice the job performed by each part. The labels describe this example; they are not a rule that every Chinese sentence must copy.
我早上没吃饭，饿得肚子疼。
I skipped breakfast and was so hungry that my stomach hurt.
我
Predicate
This part occupies the Predicate position in the model pattern.
早上
得
This part occupies the 得 position in the model pattern.
没
Subject
This part occupies the Subject position in the model pattern.
吃饭
Predicate
This part occupies the Predicate position in the model pattern.
，
Predicate
This part occupies the Predicate position in the model pattern.
饿
得
This part occupies the 得 position in the model pattern.
得
Subject
This part occupies the Subject position in the model pattern.
肚子
Predicate
This part occupies the Predicate position in the model pattern.
疼
Predicate
This part occupies the Predicate position in the model pattern.
03 / EXAMPLES
Examples You Can Reuse
Keep the structure stable while changing the people, objects, times, or conditions. Pinyin is shown as reading support; use the Chinese sentence and translation to confirm the grammar relationship.
我早上没吃饭，饿得肚子疼。
I skipped breakfast and was so hungry that my stomach hurt.
房间里热得人头痛。
The room is so hot that it gives people headaches.
她哭得眼睛都红了。
She cried until her eyes were red.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- Name a body part affected by a state: 我饿得肚子疼。
- Name people affected by an environment: 房间热得人头痛。
- Describe a visible result with its own subject: 她哭得眼睛都红了。
Do not use it when
- Do not move the embedded subject after its predicate.
- Do not replace 得 with 的 between the main predicate and clause.
- Do not analyze the embedded subject as the object of the first adjective or intransitive verb.
05 / REPAIR
Compare Right and Wrong
Compare the smallest meaningful change. Each explanation identifies a placement, scope, form, or clause relationship instead of treating the whole sentence as one undifferentiated mistake.
我饿得疼肚子。
我饿得肚子疼。
The embedded subject follows its predicate
The complement is the subject-predicate clause 肚子疼. Its subject 肚子 must come before its predicate 疼.
她哭眼睛都红了。
她哭得眼睛都红了。
The complement marker is omitted before the embedded clause
得 is required to introduce 眼睛都红了 as the state or extent complement of 哭.
我饿得疼肚子。
The complement is the subject-predicate clause 肚子疼. Its subject 肚子 must come before its predicate 疼.
她哭眼睛都红了。
得 is required to introduce 眼睛都红了 as the state or extent complement of 哭.
06 / PRACTICE
Practice the Grammar Point
Complete three short tasks in order: judge the pattern, repair a common error, and build the sentence. Feedback is fixed and reviewed, so these activities do not use a checker allowance.
1. Judge the sentence
2. Choose the correction
3. Build the sentence
Build a complete sentence with 动词/形容词＋得＋主谓短语.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 动词/形容词＋得＋主谓短语. Your draft moves to the checker through this browser session, selects this grammar point as the first review focus, and waits for you to submit.
08 / QUESTIONS
得 plus a Subject-Predicate Clause Questions
How can I recognize the clause after 得?
Look for its own subject followed by a predicate, such as 肚子疼 or 眼睛红了.
Is the noun after 得 an object?
Not in this pattern. It is the subject of the embedded consequence clause.
09 / SOURCES
Sources and Review Notes
These references support different parts of the lesson. GF0025-2021 supports level placement only; professional grammar works support the explanation, limits, examples, and cross-checks. Their inclusion does not imply endorsement.
Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education (GF0025-2021)
Ministry of Education and State Language Commission · Ministry of Education of the PRC · 2021
Locator: Appendix A, Level 5 grammar inventory, item 五37(2) (A.5.4.3), PDF page 227: 动词/形容词＋得＋主谓短语
Supports placement in HSK 5; it does not independently establish the usage explanation.
Official sourceModern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide, 3rd ed.
Ross, Ma, Chen, He and Yeh · Routledge · 2024
Locator: Chapter 32, section 32.6, complements of extent; Google Books preview pages PT348-PT349
Shows predicate plus 得 followed by a clause with its own subject and predicate, including consequences such as eyes becoming red.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
Compare
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