Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar

Summary of the functions of resultative verbs

32.3

action verb + 不 bu + resultative suffix

王老师的话我都听不懂。

王老師的話我都聽不懂。

Wáng lǎoshī de huà wǒ dōu tīngbudǒng.

I can’t understand (by listening) what Professor Wang says.

我找不到我的皮包。

Wǒ zhǎobudào wǒ de píbāo.

I can’t find my wallet.

(^) Note the infixes 得 de and 不 bu are the only things that can occur between an action verb and a resultative
suffix.

C18.6, 19.5

32.2.2.1 Using resultative verbs to indicate that a result cannot be achieved
no matter what
Resultative verbs in the negative potential form occur with the question word 怎么/怎麼 zěnme
to indicate that a result cannot be achieved no matter what the subject does.

我怎么学也学不会。

我怎麼學也學不會。

Wǒ zěnme xué yě xuébuhuì.

No matter how I study I can’t learn (it).

他怎么找也找不到。

他怎麼找也找不到。

Tā zěnme zhǎo yě zhǎobudào.

No matter how I look I can’t find (it).

C28.6

32.3 Summary of the functions of resultative verbs

The functions of resultative verbs and their occurrence with 了 le and negation are summarized

below.

The action occurred and the result

was attained

The action occurred but the result or

conclusion was not attained

resultative verb + 了 le 没 méi + resultative verb

我吃饱了。 我没吃饱。

我吃飽了。 我沒吃飽。

Wǒ chībǎo le. Wǒ méi chībǎo.

I ate until full. I did not eat until full.

(I ate but was not full.)

It is possible to attain the indicated result

or conclusion by performing the verb

It is impossible to attain the indicated result

or conclusion by performing the verb

action verb 得 de result /conclusion action verb 不 bu result /conclusion

我吃得饱。 我吃不饱。

我吃得飽。 我吃不飽。

Wǒ chīdebǎo. Wǒ chībubǎo.

I am able to eat until full. I am unable to eat until full.