IV. The elements after the predicate verb

The predicate verb, except for some disyllabic verbs with built-in resultative components such as qǔxiāo 取消(to cancel) and suōxiǎo 缩小 (to reduce), must take a complementary element such as a complement, a locative phrase, an indirect object, and so on. The following shows what elements usually follow the verb.

  1. RESULTATIVE + resultative complement (+ le ) Stating what result has been accomplished or is anticipated


    1. Wǒmen bǎ Zhōngwén zuòyè zuòwán le.
      我们把中文作业做完了。
      We have finished our Chinese homework.


    2. Qǐng bǎ mén dǎkāi.
      请把门打开。
      Please open the door.


    3. Zhèi liǎng tiān kě bǎ wǒmen mánghuài le.
      这两天可把我们忙坏了。
      We were terribly busy the last few days.

    Note 1: Though stative verbs such as huài , tòu , show degree when placed after a stative verb or verb of mental activity, they are considered complements of result due to the structure.)

    Note 2: Since the function of the sentence is to show what has happened to the direct object as a result of the action, the predicate verb and its complement must comment on the direct object, not on the subject or any other element. There is still a verb-object relationship even though the object has been displaced to a position before the verb. Such a relationship can be seen in Sentences 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3 above.


    VERB + COMPLEMENT + OBJECT

    Zuòwán 做完 Zhōngwén zuòyè 中文作业
    Dǎkāi 打开 mén
    Mánghuài 忙坏


    1. Wǒ bǎ fàn chīwán le. (Grammatical)
      我把饭吃完了。
      I finished the meal/food.

      This sentence shows what has happened to the food---it has been finished.

    2. Wǒ bǎ fàn chībǎo le. (Ungrammatical)
      我把饭吃饱了。 (doesn't make sense)

    The verb takes a resultative complement bǎo 'full', which comments on the subject, 'I', instead of the object fàn 'food '.Since 'full' is not what has happened to the 'food ' but rather how 'I' has been affected as a result of 'eating', this sentence is not grammatical. It should be changed to 'Wǒ chībǎo le. 我吃饱了' I'm full.