得 plus a Verb-Phrase State Complement in Chinese
动词/形容词＋得＋动词短语
A predicate followed by 得 and a verb phrase can describe the behavior or consequence produced by that state. The first predicate supplies the cause or manner, while the following verb phrase supplies the resulting response. 得 is obligatory and directly links the two parts; it is not the possessive particle 的.
Published July 23, 2026
Reviewed July 23, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
Predicate + 得 + Verb Phrase
Read the structure
A predicate followed by 得 and a verb phrase can describe the behavior or consequence produced by that state. The first predicate supplies the cause or manner, while the following verb phrase supplies the resulting response. 得 is obligatory and directly links the two parts; it is not the possessive particle 的. Keep the model Predicate + 得 + Verb Phrase visible while you compare each sentence.
她气得说不出话来。
She was so angry that she could not speak.
Choose the right context
Show inability caused by emotion: 她气得说不出话来。 Describe behavior resulting from sadness: 他伤心得哭了起来。 Show a bodily response to a state: 我累得站不起来。
他伤心得哭了起来。
He was so sad that he started crying.
Respect the boundary
Do not replace complement marker 得 with attributive 的. Do not omit 得 and leave two unrelated predicates next to each other. Do not use this lesson for a following subject-predicate clause; that has a separate internal structure.
她气的说不出话来。
(She angry-DE could not speak.)
Repair the pattern
The attributive particle 的 replaces complement marker 得: This is a state complement, so the linking particle must be 得. 的 marks attribution and cannot perform this function. The required link between cause and resulting action is omitted: 得 must connect the state 累 to the resulting verb phrase 站不起来.
她气得说不出话来。
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.
她气得说不出话来。
She was so angry that she could not speak.
她
Predicate
This part occupies the Predicate position in the model pattern.
气
得
This part occupies the 得 position in the model pattern.
得
Verb Phrase
This part occupies the Verb Phrase position in the model pattern.
说不出
Predicate
This part occupies the Predicate position in the model pattern.
话来
得
This part occupies the 得 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.
她气得说不出话来。
She was so angry that she could not speak.
他伤心得哭了起来。
He was so sad that he started crying.
我今天累得站不起来。
I am so tired today that I cannot stand up.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- Show inability caused by emotion: 她气得说不出话来。
- Describe behavior resulting from sadness: 他伤心得哭了起来。
- Show a bodily response to a state: 我累得站不起来。
Do not use it when
- Do not replace complement marker 得 with attributive 的.
- Do not omit 得 and leave two unrelated predicates next to each other.
- Do not use this lesson for a following subject-predicate clause; that has a separate internal structure.
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.
她气的说不出话来。
她气得说不出话来。
The attributive particle 的 replaces complement marker 得
This is a state complement, so the linking particle must be 得. 的 marks attribution and cannot perform this function.
我今天累站不起来。
我今天累得站不起来。
The required link between cause and resulting action is omitted
得 must connect the state 累 to the resulting verb phrase 站不起来.
她气的说不出话来。
This is a state complement, so the linking particle must be 得. 的 marks attribution and cannot perform this function.
我今天累站不起来。
得 must connect the state 累 to the resulting verb phrase 站不起来.
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＋动词短语.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 动词/形容词＋得＋动词短语. 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 Verb-Phrase State Complement Questions
What does the verb phrase after 得 express?
It describes behavior, ability, or another response resulting from the preceding action or state.
Can the first predicate be an adjective?
Yes. Adjectival predicates such as 累, 急, and 高兴 can introduce the resulting verb phrase with 得.
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(1) (A.5.4.3), PDF page 227: 动词/形容词＋得＋动词短语
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
Gives predicate plus 得 plus verb phrase as an extent or state complement in which the following phrase describes the resulting response.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
Compare
动词/形容词＋得＋主谓短语得 plus a Subject-Predicate Clause
Compare this lesson with 得 followed by a subject-predicate clause describing degree; both belong to post-predicate complement shape and modifier order, but they organize a different sentence role or discourse job.
Compare
动词/形容词＋得＋固定短语得 plus a Fixed-Phrase State Complement
Compare this lesson with 得 followed by a fixed phrase describing state; both belong to post-predicate complement shape and modifier order, but they organize a different sentence role or discourse job.
Compare
多项状语语序Ordering Multiple Adverbials
Compare this lesson with several adverbials ordered before one predicate; both belong to post-predicate complement shape and modifier order, but they organize a different sentence role or discourse job.
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得The 得 (de) Complement
Continue with the reviewed follow-up lesson to apply this pattern inside a broader, explicitly connected grammar construction.
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