Chinese course / HSK5 handouts
Complements
Printable paper with separate answer pages Step-by-step lessons
Original teaching practice. Read one pattern, cover its model and try the questions before checking the separate answer section. Examples adapted from Chinese Grammar Wiki (AllSet Learning, CC BY-NC-SA) retain the course-reference provenance.
Advanced degree complements ((degree marker)得 + degree / adjective linker很 / to cause sb's death要命 …)
After a twenty-kilometre hike
- You finally reach the hostel after walking all day in the mountains.
- 我累(degree marker)得to cause sb's death要命,what什么all / both都unexpectedly不想to make做(completed / change)了。 – "I'm dead tired; I don't feel like doing anything."
Adj + (degree marker)得 + degree / adjective linker很 / to cause sb's death要命 / won't do不行 / desperately serious不得了
- These degree complements push an adjective to a high degree: good好(degree marker)得degree / adjective linker很, rope累(degree marker)得to cause sb's death要命, 饿得won't do不行, busy忙(degree marker)得desperately serious不得了.
- They all follow the pattern Adj + (degree marker)得 + complement and end the clause.
I我hungry饿得unbearably不行了。

Different flavours
- (degree marker)得degree / adjective linker很: emphatic but mild – here这里quiet安静(degree marker)得degree / adjective linker很. (degree marker)得to cause sb's death要命 / (degree marker)得won't do不行: very colloquial, often a complaint – 疼得to cause sb's death要命.
- (degree marker)得desperately serious不得了: very strong, good or bad – happy高兴(degree marker)得desperately serious不得了.
he他tooth牙aching疼得terribly要命。
Not literal, and no extra degree / adjective linker很
- to cause sb's death要命 does not mean real danger: 冷得to cause sb's death要命 just means "freezing".
- No degree / adjective linker很 before the adjective: rope累(degree marker)得to cause sb's death要命, not 很累(degree marker)得to cause sb's death要命.
Versus the plain degree adverb
- very非常rope累 / unusual特别rope累 are neutral and fine in writing.
- The (degree marker)得 complements sound spoken and expressive; keep them out of formal essays.
I我today今天very非常tired累。
Recap
- Adj + (degree marker)得 + degree / adjective linker很 / to cause sb's death要命 / won't do不行 / desperately serious不得了 = very, extremely (spoken, expressive).
- Not literal; no degree / adjective linker很 before; use very非常 in writing.
Practise this pattern step by step.
Verb + (degree marker)得(completed / change)了 / (as a resultative verb…不了 (can / can't manage)
Too much food
- Your host keeps adding dishes to the table, far more than two people can eat.
- so much这么多菜,we / us我们variant of 吃吃(as a resultative verb…不了。 – "This much food – we can't possibly eat it all."
Verb + (degree marker)得(completed / change)了 / (as a resultative verb…不了 (liǎo)
- Verb + (degree marker)得(completed / change)了 = can manage it; Verb + (as a resultative verb…不了 = can't manage it: to go去(degree marker)得(completed / change)了 / to go去(as a resultative verb…不了, 吃得了 / variant of 吃吃(as a resultative verb…不了.
- (completed / change)了 here is read liǎo ("finish, manage").
tomorrow明天I我am busy有事,go去can't不了。

Ability, quantity, endurance
- Quantity: 一个person人variant of 吃吃(as a resultative verb…不了so much这么many多。 – "One person can't eat this much."
- Endurance: so much这么to warm up热(modifier / structural particle)的day天,I / me我unbearable受不了。 – "I can't stand this heat."
so这么hot热的weather天,I我can't stand受不了。
Read it liǎo
- In variant of 吃吃(as a resultative verb…不了 / to go去(degree marker)得(completed / change)了, (completed / change)了 = liǎo, not the particle le.
- Ask with both forms: you你to go去(degree marker)得(completed / change)了to go去(as a resultative verb…不了? or you你to go去(degree marker)得(completed / change)了(yes/no ?)吗?
(as a resultative verb…不了 versus not不to finish完 and cannot不能
- 吃不完 = can't finish (the food is left over); variant of 吃吃(as a resultative verb…不了 = can't manage (too much, or unable).
- cannot不能 = not allowed or not able in general: you你cannot不能to go去 – "You can't (aren't allowed to) go."
food菜too太much多,eat吃(can't)不finish完。
Recap
- Verb + (degree marker)得(completed / change)了 / (as a resultative verb…不了 (liǎo) = can / can't manage: to go去(as a resultative verb…不了, variant of 吃吃(as a resultative verb…不了, unbearable受不了.
- not不to finish完 means unable to finish; cannot不能 can express inability or prohibition, depending on context.
Practise this pattern step by step.
Result complements to live住 / to open (transitive or…开 / (after a verb, indicates…出来
Hold on tight
- You are helping your little sister learn to ride a bike.
- to grab hold of抓住handle把手,don't别to release松开! – "Hold on to the handlebars, don't let go!"
Verb + to live住 = fix, hold firmly
- to live住 makes the result stable: to grab hold of抓住 (grab hold), to remember记住 (memorise), to stand站住 (stop), to stop拦住 (block).
- to remember记住I / me我(modifier / structural particle)的电话号码。 – "Remember my phone number."
please请remember记住my我的phone电话number号码。

Verb + to open (transitive or…开 / (after a verb, indicates…出来
- to open (transitive or…开 = open or separate: to open打开 (open), to pull open拉开 (pull open), to leave走开 (go away), to depart离开 (leave).
- (after a verb, indicates…出来 = come out, emerge, or be recognised: want / think / miss想(after a verb, indicates…出来 (come up with), to see看(after a verb, indicates…出来 (tell, make out), to write写(after a verb, indicates…出来 (write out).
I我see看(make out)出来he他not不happy高兴。
Potential forms
- can't remember记不住 = can't remember; 打不开 = can't open; want / think / miss想not不(after a verb, indicates…出来 = can't think of it.
- (after a verb, indicates…出来 can split around an object: want / think / miss想variant of 出 (classifier…出一个means办法to come来 / want / think / miss想(after a verb, indicates…出来一个means办法.
to see看(after a verb, indicates…出来 versus to see看见
- to see看见 = see (with the eyes): I / me我to see看见he / him他(completed / change)了.
- to see看(after a verb, indicates…出来 = work out, notice from clues: I / me我to see看(after a verb, indicates…出来he / him他at / in在to lie说谎 – "I could tell he was lying."
I我saw看见him他了。
Recap
- to live住 = fix firmly (to remember记住, to grab hold of抓住); to open (transitive or…开 = open / apart / away (to open打开, to depart离开); (after a verb, indicates…出来 = come out / be recognised (want / think / miss想(after a verb, indicates…出来, to see看(after a verb, indicates…出来).
- Potential: can't remember记不住, 打不开, want / think / miss想not不(after a verb, indicates…出来.
Practise this pattern step by step.
Verb / Adj + bad坏(completed / change)了 (broken / to an extreme)
Worn out
- Your mum comes home after a twelve-hour shift and collapses on the sofa.
- today今天used in 可汗可(把: marks the object)把I / me我to become exhausted累坏(completed / change)了! – "Today absolutely wore me out!"
Verb + bad坏 = broken (a result)
- Verb + bad坏((completed / change)了) = the action broke something: to drop and break摔坏 (broke by dropping), to use / with用bad坏 (wore out by using), to ruin弄坏 (damaged).
- I / me我(modifier / structural particle)的cell phone手机to drop and break摔坏(completed / change)了。 – "I dropped my phone and broke it."
my我的phone手机drop摔broken坏了。

Adj / feeling + bad坏(completed / change)了 = extremely
- With feelings and states, bad坏(completed / change)了 means "terribly": to become exhausted累坏(completed / change)了, 饿坏(completed / change)了, 急坏(completed / change)了, happy高兴bad坏(completed / change)了.
- to hear听到this这个news消息,she / her她happy高兴bad坏(completed / change)了。 – "When she heard the news, she was thrilled."
hearing听到this这个news消息,she她happy高兴extremely坏了。
Which meaning?
- Action verb + bad坏 = something is physically broken: computer电脑to wear out (tools)用坏(completed / change)了.
- Feeling / state + bad坏(completed / change)了 = an extreme degree, nothing broken: 饿坏(completed / change)了. (completed / change)了 is usually needed.
With (把: marks the object)把
- bad坏 results often appear in (把: marks the object)把 sentences: younger brother弟弟(把: marks the object)把I / me我(modifier / structural particle)的spectacles眼镜弄坏了。 – "My brother broke my glasses."
- used in 可汗可(把: marks the object)把…bad坏(completed / change)了 is a common spoken frame: used in 可汗可(把: marks the object)把I / me我急坏(completed / change)了 – "I was worried sick."
my brother弟弟把my我的glasses眼镜broke弄坏了。
Recap
- Action verb + bad坏((completed / change)了) = broken by that action (to drop and break摔坏, to ruin弄坏).
- Feeling / state + bad坏(completed / change)了 = extremely (to become exhausted累坏(completed / change)了, happy高兴bad坏(completed / change)了); used in 可汗可(把: marks the object)把I / me我…bad坏(completed / change)了 is spoken.
Practise this pattern step by step.
Verb + (ongoing -ing)着 (zháo) (managed to / succeeded)
Finally asleep
- You tossed and turned for hours before you managed to sleep.
- I / me我两点only then / not until才to fall asleep睡着。 – "I didn't get to sleep until two."
Verb + (ongoing -ing)着 (zháo) = succeed in
- (ongoing -ing)着 zháo after a verb marks success in reaching the goal: to fall asleep睡着 (fall asleep), to try to find找(ongoing -ing)着 (find), to buy买(ongoing -ing)着 (manage to buy).
- It is read zháo, not zhe.
the keys钥匙found找着了吗?

Potential and negative forms
- 睡不着 = can't get to sleep: I / me我太紧张(completed / change)了,睡不着.
- 没找(ongoing -ing)着 = didn't manage to find: I / me我to try to find找(completed / change)了half of the day半天also也not / haven't没to try to find找(ongoing -ing)着.
I我too太nervous紧张了,can't sleep睡不着。
zháo versus zhe
- to fall asleep睡着 (shuì zháo) = fall asleep (the goal reached); to fall asleep睡着 (shuì zhe) = in a sleeping state – context and reading tell them apart.
- For finding, to find找到 is more common in the north and standard; to try to find找(ongoing -ing)着 is spoken.
(ongoing -ing)着 (zháo) versus to / arrive到
- Both mark success: to try to find找(ongoing -ing)着 = to find找到, to buy买(ongoing -ing)着 = to buy买to / arrive到.
- to fall asleep睡着 has no to / arrive到 version: to sleep睡to / arrive到 means "sleep until": to sleep睡to / arrive到十点.
I我look for找(found)到了。
Recap
- Verb + (ongoing -ing)着 (zháo) = succeed in (to fall asleep睡着, to try to find找(ongoing -ing)着); negatives 睡不着 / 没找(ongoing -ing)着.
- Read zháo; often interchangeable with to / arrive到, except to fall asleep睡着.
Practise this pattern step by step.
Verb + to / arrive到 (succeed in reaching)
Got the tickets!
- Concert tickets sold out in two minutes, but you clicked fast enough.
- I / me我to buy买to / arrive到ticket票(completed / change)了! – "I managed to get tickets!"
Verb + to / arrive到 = reach the goal
- Verb + to / arrive到 marks that an action reached its goal: to buy买to / arrive到, to find找到, to see看到, to hear听到, to receive收到.
- you你to receive收到I / me我(modifier / structural particle)的mail邮件(completed / change)了(yes/no ?)吗? – "Did you get my email?"
you你receive收到my我的email邮件了吗?

Reaching a place, time or degree
- Place: he / him他to walk走to / arrive到doorway门口。 – "He walked to the door."
- Degree: we / us我们聊到degree / adjective linker很evening晚。 – "We chatted until very late."
we我们chat聊until到very很late晚。
Searching versus finding
- to try to find找 = look for; to find找到 = find. I / me我to try to find找(completed / change)了,but可是not / haven't没to find找到 – "I looked but didn't find it."
- Negate with not / haven't没: 没买to / arrive到; potential: 买不到 / to buy买to get得到.
to see看 / to see看到 / to see看见
- to see看 = look at (the action); to see看到 / to see看见 = see (the result).
- to listen to听 = listen; to hear听到 / to hear听见 = hear: I / me我to hear听到someone有人to knock on a door敲门.
I我heard听到someone有人knock敲门。
Recap
- Verb + to / arrive到 = the action reached its goal (to buy买to / arrive到, to find找到, to receive收到) or a place / time (to walk走to / arrive到, 聊到degree / adjective linker很evening晚).
- to try to find找 = search, to find找到 = find; negative not / haven't没…to / arrive到, potential …not to arrive不到.
Practise this pattern step by step.
Verb + to come来 + Verb + to go去 (back and forth)
A restless dog before the storm
- Your dog can't settle before the storm and keeps pacing around the living room.
- it它at / in在drawing room (room for…客厅li, ancient measure of…里走来走去。 – "It keeps pacing back and forth in the living room."
Verb + to come来 + Verb + to go去
- Vto come来Vto go去 = do something repeatedly, back and forth: 走来走去, to scamper跑来跑去, to fly about飞来飞去.
- The same verb repeats; to come来 and to go去 show movement in different directions.
the children孩子们in在the park公园(in)里run跑(here)来run跑(there)去。

Repeating with no result
- With thinking and talking, it often means "over and over, without getting anywhere": I / me我想来想去,or / still还是to decide (to do something)决定不去(completed / change)了。 – "I thought it over and over and decided not to go after all."
- they他们说来说去or / still还是that那几句话。 – "They kept going round in circles saying the same things."
I我think想(over)来think想(and over)去,after all还是decided决定not不go去了。
Same verb, one syllable
- Use the same verb in both places: 走来走去, not 走来to run跑to go去.
- It describes a repeated activity, so it rarely takes a result complement: 走来走去, not 走来走去to finish完.
Versus to make a round trip来回
- to make a round trip来回 + verb also means back and forth: he / him他at / in在doorway门口to make a round trip来回to walk走.
- to make a round trip来回 can be a noun: 一个to make a round trip来回 – "a round trip".
he他at在the door门口back and forth来回walk走。
Recap
- Vto come来Vto go去 = do repeatedly, back and forth (走来走去); with want / think / miss想 / variant of 说说 = over and over.
- Same verb twice; to make a round trip来回 + verb is a near equivalent.
Practise this pattern step by step.
Practice without the models
Choose a pattern, cover its teaching examples, and attempt its questions. Use the labels to find feedback in the separate key.
Advanced degree complements ((degree marker)得 + degree / adjective linker很 / to cause sb's death要命 …)
1801.1 Complete: “I'm starving.” I / me我to be hungry饿…………won't do不行(completed / change)了。
1801.2 Which suits a formal essay?
- A. this这个question问题难死(completed / change)了。
- B. this这个question问题seldom难得won't do不行。
- C. this这个question问题very非常difficult / hard难。
- D. this这个question问题seldom难得to cause sb's death要命。
1801.3 Match each phrase to its meaning.
-
- 疼得to cause sb's death要命
-
- quiet安静(degree marker)得degree / adjective linker很
-
- happy高兴(degree marker)得desperately serious不得了
-
A. hurts terribly
-
B. over the moon
-
C. really quiet
1801.4 冷得to cause sb's death要命 means it is literally dangerously cold.
True or false? Explain or repair the statement.
1801.5 You finally reach the hostel after walking all day in the mountains. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.
Write or say your own response before reading the key.
Verb + (degree marker)得(completed / change)了 / (as a resultative verb…不了 (can / can't manage)
1802.1 Complete: “I'm ill tomorrow, so I can't come.” I / me我tomorrow明天illness病(completed / change)了,to come来…………(completed / change)了。
1802.2 How is (completed / change)了 read in unbearable受不了?
- A. lài
- B. le
- C. lā
- D. liǎo
1802.3 Build: “I can't stand this heat.”
Arrange all chunks: so much这么to warm up热(modifier / structural particle)的day天 / unbearable受不了。 / , / I / me我
1802.4 you你cannot不能to go去 is about permission; you你to go去(as a resultative verb…不了 is about being able.
True or false? Explain or repair the statement.
1802.5 Your host keeps adding dishes to the table, far more than two people can eat. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.
Write or say your own response before reading the key.
Result complements to live住 / to open (transitive or…开 / (after a verb, indicates…出来
1803.1 Complete: “Remember: the meeting is at nine.” to record记…………:meeting会议九点to start开始。
1803.2 “I can't open this bottle.” Which is correct?
- A. this这个bottle瓶子I / me我打不开。
- B. this这个bottle瓶子I / me我not不to open打开。
- C. this这个bottle瓶子I / me我cannot不能(of a sports competition or…开打。
- D. this这个bottle瓶子I / me我to open打开not不。
1803.3 Match each verb to its meaning.
-
- to grab hold of抓住
-
- to depart离开
-
- want / think / miss想(after a verb, indicates…出来
-
- to see看(after a verb, indicates…出来
-
A. tell, make out
-
B. come up with
-
C. grab hold of
-
D. leave
1803.4 to see看(after a verb, indicates…出来 and to see看见 mean the same.
True or false? Explain or repair the statement.
1803.5 You are helping your little sister learn to ride a bike. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.
Write or say your own response before reading the key.
Verb / Adj + bad坏(completed / change)了 (broken / to an extreme)
1804.1 Complete: “The kids are starving.” child孩子(plural)们to be hungry饿…………(completed / change)了。
1804.2 In computer电脑to wear out (tools)用坏(completed / change)了, what does bad坏 express?
- A. someone was angry
- B. the computer broke from use
- C. the computer is bad quality
- D. extremely
1804.3 Build: “My brother broke my glasses.”
Arrange all chunks: younger brother弟弟 / to ruin弄坏 / (把: marks the object)把I / me我(modifier / structural particle)的spectacles眼镜 / (completed / change)了。
1804.4 In happy高兴bad坏(completed / change)了, something is broken.
True or false? Explain or repair the statement.
1804.5 Your mum comes home after a twelve-hour shift and collapses on the sofa. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.
Write or say your own response before reading the key.
Verb + (ongoing -ing)着 (zháo) (managed to / succeeded)
1805.1 Complete: “I'm too nervous; I can't get to sleep.” I / me我太紧张(completed / change)了,to sleep睡not不…………。
1805.2 How is (ongoing -ing)着 read in I / me我两点only then / not until才to fall asleep睡着?
- A. zhuó
- B. zháo
- C. zhe
- D. zhāo
1805.3 Build: “Did you find the keys?”
Arrange all chunks: (completed / change)了 / key钥匙 / to try to find找(ongoing -ing)着 / (yes/no ?)吗?
1805.4 to sleep睡to / arrive到十点 means “fell asleep at ten”.
True or false? Explain or repair the statement.
1805.5 You tossed and turned for hours before you managed to sleep. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.
Write or say your own response before reading the key.
Verb + to / arrive到 (succeed in reaching)
1806.1 Complete: “I looked for it for ages but didn't find it.” I / me我to try to find找(completed / change)了half of the day半天also也not / haven't没to try to find找…………。
1806.2 Which says “I can't get hold of this book anywhere”?
- A. this这本书where哪儿all / both都to buy买to / arrive到not不。
- B. this这本书where哪儿all / both都not不to buy买to / arrive到。
- C. this这本书where哪儿all / both都not / haven't没to buy买。
- D. this这本书where哪儿all / both都买不到。
1806.3 Build: “We chatted until very late.”
Arrange all chunks: 聊到 / we / us我们 / degree / adjective linker很evening晚。
1806.4 to listen to听 means “listen” and to hear听到 means “hear”.
True or false? Explain or repair the statement.
1806.5 Concert tickets sold out in two minutes, but you clicked fast enough. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.
Write or say your own response before reading the key.
Verb + to come来 + Verb + to go去 (back and forth)
1807.1 Complete: “Birds are flying back and forth.” bird鸟儿飞来to fly飞…………。
1807.2 Which is correct?
- A. he / him他走来走去。
- B. he / him他走来to run跑to go去。
- C. he / him他to walk走to go去走来(completed / change)了to finish完。
- D. 他来to walk走to go去to walk走。
1807.3 Build: “I thought it over and over and decided not to go.”
Arrange all chunks: or / still还是to decide (to do something)决定 / , / 不去(completed / change)了。 / I / me我想来想去
1807.4 一个to make a round trip来回 means “a round trip”.
True or false? Explain or repair the statement.
1807.5 Your dog can't settle before the storm and keeps pacing around the living room. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.
Write or say your own response before reading the key.
A fresh situation
R1. Interpret and repair. A learner treats to see看(as a resultative verb…不了 as identical to not / haven't没to see看to finish完. What distinction can matter?
R2. Use it yourself. Say a door was held in place and that you could not eat the large quantity offered.
Write your responses before opening the key. Compare meaning as well as form; a different valid answer need not copy the model.
Open the answers after your attempt
Answers and explanations
Check after your attempt. For open tasks, compare the message and the stated criteria, then revise one detail.
Advanced degree complements ((degree marker)得 + degree / adjective linker很 / to cause sb's death要命 …)
1801.1 (degree marker)得
Adj + (degree marker)得 + won't do不行.
1801.2 C. this这个question问题very非常difficult / hard难。
The (degree marker)得 complements are colloquial; essays use very非常.
1801.3 1–A: 疼得to cause sb's death要命 = hurts terribly; 2–C: quiet安静(degree marker)得degree / adjective linker很 = really quiet; 3–B: happy高兴(degree marker)得desperately serious不得了 = over the moon
All are degree complements with different flavours.
1801.4 False.
to cause sb's death要命 is just an intensifier here.
1801.5 One possible response: 我累(degree marker)得to cause sb's death要命,what什么all / both都unexpectedly不想to make做(completed / change)了。
Check meaning and form:
- My response conveys a message that fits the opening situation.
- I can explain the meaning of the pattern, rather than only naming it.
- to cause sb's death要命 does not mean real danger: 冷得to cause sb's death要命 just means "freezing".
- No degree / adjective linker很 before the adjective: rope累(degree marker)得to cause sb's death要命, not 很累(degree marker)得to cause sb's death要命.
- I tried a second response with a name, time, place, or description changed.
This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.
Verb + (degree marker)得(completed / change)了 / (as a resultative verb…不了 (can / can't manage)
1802.1 not不
Verb + (as a resultative verb…不了 = can't manage.
1802.2 D. liǎo
In potential complements (degree marker)得(completed / change)了 / (as a resultative verb…不了 (“can / can't manage”), (completed / change)了 is read liǎo: unbearable受不了 shòu bu liǎo “can't stand it”. The particle le is a different use.
1802.3 so much这么to warm up热(modifier / structural particle)的day天,I / me我unbearable受不了。
Topic, then subject + unbearable受不了.
1802.4 True.
cannot不能 can be a rule; to go去(as a resultative verb…不了 says it is impossible.
1802.5 One possible response: so much这么多菜,we / us我们variant of 吃吃(as a resultative verb…不了。
Check meaning and form:
- My response conveys a message that fits the opening situation.
- I can explain the meaning of the pattern, rather than only naming it.
- In variant of 吃吃(as a resultative verb…不了 / to go去(degree marker)得(completed / change)了, (completed / change)了 = liǎo, not the particle le.
- Ask with both forms: you你to go去(degree marker)得(completed / change)了to go去(as a resultative verb…不了? or you你to go去(degree marker)得(completed / change)了(yes/no ?)吗?
- I tried a second response with a name, time, place, or description changed.
This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.
Result complements to live住 / to open (transitive or…开 / (after a verb, indicates…出来
1803.1 to live住
to remember记住 = remember (fix in memory).
1803.2 A. this这个bottle瓶子I / me我打不开。
Potential complement: 打不开.
1803.3 1–C: to grab hold of抓住 = grab hold of; 2–D: to depart离开 = leave; 3–B: want / think / miss想(after a verb, indicates…出来 = come up with; 4–A: to see看(after a verb, indicates…出来 = tell, make out
to live住 fixes, to open (transitive or…开 separates, (after a verb, indicates…出来 brings out.
1803.4 False.
to see看见 = see; to see看(after a verb, indicates…出来 = work out from clues.
1803.5 One possible response: to grab hold of抓住handle把手,don't别to release松开!
Check meaning and form:
- My response conveys a message that fits the opening situation.
- I can explain the meaning of the pattern, rather than only naming it.
- can't remember记不住 = can't remember; 打不开 = can't open; want / think / miss想not不(after a verb, indicates…出来 = can't think of it.
- (after a verb, indicates…出来 can split around an object: want / think / miss想variant of 出 (classifier…出一个means办法to come来 / want / think / miss想(after a verb, indicates…出来一个means办法.
- I tried a second response with a name, time, place, or description changed.
This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.
Verb / Adj + bad坏(completed / change)了 (broken / to an extreme)
1804.1 bad坏
Feeling / state + bad坏(completed / change)了 = extremely.
1804.2 B. the computer broke from use
Action verb + bad坏 = broken by that action.
1804.3 younger brother弟弟(把: marks the object)把I / me我(modifier / structural particle)的spectacles眼镜弄坏了。
(把: marks the object)把 + object + verb + bad坏 + (completed / change)了.
1804.4 False.
With feelings, bad坏(completed / change)了 just means “extremely”.
1804.5 One possible response: today今天used in 可汗可(把: marks the object)把I / me我to become exhausted累坏(completed / change)了!
Check meaning and form:
- My response conveys a message that fits the opening situation.
- I can explain the meaning of the pattern, rather than only naming it.
- Action verb + bad坏 = something is physically broken: computer电脑to wear out (tools)用坏(completed / change)了.
- Feeling / state + bad坏(completed / change)了 = an extreme degree, nothing broken: 饿坏(completed / change)了. (completed / change)了 is usually needed.
- I tried a second response with a name, time, place, or description changed.
This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.
Verb + (ongoing -ing)着 (zháo) (managed to / succeeded)
1805.1 (ongoing -ing)着
睡不着 = can't fall asleep.
1805.2 B. zháo
Success in reaching the goal = zháo.
1805.3 key钥匙to try to find找(ongoing -ing)着(completed / change)了(yes/no ?)吗?
Verb + (ongoing -ing)着 (zháo) + (completed / change)了.
1805.4 False.
False. to / arrive到 after a verb shows the end point in time: to sleep睡to / arrive到十点 means “slept until ten”. “Fell asleep at ten” is 十点to fall asleep睡着(completed / change)了.
1805.5 One possible response: I / me我两点only then / not until才to fall asleep睡着。
Check meaning and form:
- My response conveys a message that fits the opening situation.
- I can explain the meaning of the pattern, rather than only naming it.
- to fall asleep睡着 (shuì zháo) = fall asleep (the goal reached); to fall asleep睡着 (shuì zhe) = in a sleeping state – context and reading tell them apart.
- For finding, to find找到 is more common in the north and standard; to try to find找(ongoing -ing)着 is spoken.
- I tried a second response with a name, time, place, or description changed.
This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.
Verb + to / arrive到 (succeed in reaching)
1806.1 to / arrive到
to find找到 = find (the goal reached).
1806.2 D. this这本书where哪儿all / both都买不到。
Potential complement: 买不到.
1806.3 we / us我们聊到degree / adjective linker很evening晚。
Verb + to / arrive到 + degree / time.
1806.4 True.
True. to listen to听 is the action of listening; adding the result complement to / arrive到 shows the sound was actually perceived: I / me我to listen to听(completed / change)了,but可是not / haven't没to hear听到.
1806.5 One possible response: I / me我to buy买to / arrive到ticket票(completed / change)了!
Check meaning and form:
- My response conveys a message that fits the opening situation.
- I can explain the meaning of the pattern, rather than only naming it.
- to try to find找 = look for; to find找到 = find. I / me我to try to find找(completed / change)了,but可是not / haven't没to find找到 – "I looked but didn't find it."
- Negate with not / haven't没: 没买to / arrive到; potential: 买不到 / to buy买to get得到.
- I tried a second response with a name, time, place, or description changed.
This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.
Verb + to come来 + Verb + to go去 (back and forth)
1807.1 to go去
Vto come来Vto go去.
1807.2 A. he / him他走来走去。
In verb + to come来 + verb + to go去 the same verb repeats to show movement back and forth: he / him他走来走去 “He paces up and down.” Mixing two verbs or adding (completed / change)了to finish完 breaks the pattern.
1807.3 I / me我想来想去,or / still还是to decide (to do something)决定不去(completed / change)了。
想来想去 + decision.
1807.4 True.
True. to make a round trip来回 can be a noun meaning “a round trip”: 一个to make a round trip来回want / will / need要两个hour小时. As an adverb it means “back and forth”.
1807.5 One possible response: it它at / in在drawing room (room for…客厅li, ancient measure of…里走来走去。
Check meaning and form:
- My response conveys a message that fits the opening situation.
- I can explain the meaning of the pattern, rather than only naming it.
- Use the same verb in both places: 走来走去, not 走来to run跑to go去.
- It describes a repeated activity, so it rarely takes a result complement: 走来走去, not 走来走去to finish完.
- I tried a second response with a name, time, place, or description changed.
This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.
Fresh-situation answers
R1. to see看(as a resultative verb…不了 can mean cannot read/watch/manage it, depending on context. not / haven't没to see看to finish完 reports that it was not finished. Inability, access and one incomplete attempt should not be merged automatically.
R2. One possible response. he / him他to stand as a goalkeeper把门to fix固定to live住(completed / change)了。so much这么多菜,I / me我variant of 吃吃(as a resultative verb…不了。to live住 gives a result of securing; (as a resultative verb…不了 gives inability to manage the amount. The same English can gloss different complements poorly.
Recall later. Tomorrow, contrast a potential complement with an actual result using a new action.