iNdiCatiNG reSUlt, CoNClUSioN, PoteNtial, aNd exteNt
32.6
32.6 indicating the extent or result of a situation
Resultative verbs indicate the result of actions. To indicate the result or extent of a situation,
use the following structure:
verb 得 de verb phrase/clause
For adjectival verbs, 得 de introduces the extent of the situation, adding the meaning: so adjectival
verb that verb phrase/clause.
他累得抬不起头来了。
他累得抬不起頭來了。
Tā lèi de táibuqǐtóu lái le.
He was so tired that he could not pick up his head.
她高兴得说不出话来了。
她高興得說不出話來了。
Tā gāoxìng de shuōbuchū huà lái le.
She was so happy that she was unable to speak.
他冷得发抖了。
他冷得發抖了。
Tā lěng de fādǒu le.
He was so cold that he was shivering.
When the verb is an action verb, 得 de introduces the result of the action, adding the meaning:
performed the action until verb phrase/sentence.
妈妈哭得眼睛都红了。
媽媽哭得眼睛都紅了。
Māma kū de yǎnjing dōu hóng le.
Mom cried until her eyes were red.
他走得精疲力尽了。
他走得精疲力盡了。
Tā zǒu de jīngpí lìjìn le.
He walked so much that he was exhausted.
If the action verb takes an object, the sentence takes the following form:
[action verb + object] action verb 得 de verb phrase/clause
他[走路]走得精疲力尽了。
他[走路]走得精疲力盡了。
Tā [zǒu lù] zǒu de jīngpí lìjìn le.
He walked so much that he was exhausted.
