AdjecTIvAL verbS
10.5
The intensifier suffixes 得很 de hěn ‘very,’ 极了/極了 jíle ‘extremely,’ and 得不得了 debù déliǎo
‘extremely’ follow the adjectival verb. They are sometimes referred to as degree complements
or complements of degree.
好得很
hǎo de hěn
be very good
好极了
好極了
hǎojíle
be terrific
好得不得了
hǎo de bùdéliǎo
be terrific
Stative verbs and the modal verbs 会/會 huì and 能 néng can also be modified by intensifiers,
but they do not take intensifier suffixes.
C11.2, 12.6.3
10.4 Two-syllable preference
Adjectival verbs generally occur in two-syllable phrases. In affirmative form, when no special
emphasis is intended, one-syllable adjectival verbs are usually preceded by 很 hěn. When
negated, 不 bù provides the additional syllable.
他很高。 他不高。
Tā hěn gāo. Tā bù gāo.
He is tall. He is not tall.
那本书很贵。 那本书不贵。
那本書很貴。 那本書不貴。
Nà běn shū hěn guì. Nà běn shū bù guì.
That book is expensive. That book is not expensive.
10.5 Comparative meaning
Adjectival verbs do not have a distinct comparative form. However, in certain contexts they
have comparative meaning.
They have comparative meaning when the context implies a comparison:
Q: 谁高？/誰高？ A: 他高。
Shéi gāo? Tā gāo.
Who is tall? He is tall.
or or
Who is taller? He is taller.
They have comparative meaning when they occur in comparison structures:
他比你高。
Tā bǐ nǐ gāo.
He is taller than you.
C30.6, 33
