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Resultative complement

The resultative complement is an element attached to a verb, indicating the result of an action denoted by it. The function of the resultative complement can be performed by appropriately selected verbs or adjectives.
HSK2 TBCL2

Common errors

Syntactic errrors

1. Errors in the structure of the verb-resultative complement phrase

Learners may place the resultative complement in an incorrect position before the verb.

*完说
说完

*完說
說完

*错写
写错

*錯寫
寫錯

They may also use two resultative complements after one verb.

*看见清楚
看见 or 看清楚

*看見清楚
看見 or 看清楚

2. Errors in the structure of the sentence with the resultative complement

Some learners may place the aspectual particle or the object in an incorrect position between the verb and the resultative complement.

*东西都准备了好。
东西都准备好

*東西都準備了好。
東西都準備好

*我洗裤子干净了。
我洗干净裤子。

*我洗褲子乾淨了。
我洗乾淨褲子。

They may also omit the main verb in a sentence and use only a resultative complement

*我完了这本书。
完了这本书。

*我完了這本書。
完了這本書。

*他坏了我的手机。
坏了我的手机。

*他壞了我的手機。
壞了我的手機。

3. Beginner learners may mistakenly use  instead of / before verb – resultative complement phrase.

*我好久不见到她了。
我好久见到她了。

*我好久不見到她了。
我好久見到她了。

Pragmatic errors

1. Learners may have difficulty selecting the appropriate complement and may use an unsuitable one in a given context.

*我听见了一个好消息。
听到了一个好消息。

*我聽見了一個好消息。
聽到了一個好消息。

2. They may also fail to use a complement when it is required – namely, when the sentence expresses the result of an action rather than the action itself.

*我昨天在马路上看了李老师。
我昨天在马路上看见了李老师。

*我昨天在馬路上看了李老師。
我昨天在馬路上看見了李老師。

*我说了。谢谢大家!
说完了。谢谢大家!

*我說了。謝謝大家!
說完了。謝謝大家!