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HSK 2.0 Level 3+ HSK 3.0 Level 3+ 6 min read

Degree Complements 得很, 极了 and 坏了

Say “really” and “extremely” after an adjective with 得很, 极了 and 坏了: 好得很, 高兴极了, 累坏了.

Pattern

Adjective + 得很; adjective / feeling verb + 极了 / 坏了

Put the “very” after the adjective: 好得很, 好极了, 累坏了, and drop 很 in front.

走了一天，我累坏了。

When to use Degree Complements 得很, 极了 and 坏了

These three go after an adjective, or a verb of feeling, to say “very” or “extremely”. 得很 makes the adjective emphatic: 好得很 “really good”. 极了 means “extremely” and takes no 得: 好极了. 坏了 also means “extremely”, but mostly for unpleasant body states and strong feelings: 累坏了 “worn out”, 饿坏了 “starving”, 急坏了 “worried sick”. Since the complement already says “very”, don’t put 很 or 非常 in front of the adjective.

这家店的饺子好吃得很。

The dumplings at this place are really good.

听到这个消息，他高兴极了。

He was overjoyed when he heard the news.

今天的天气好极了。

The weather today is absolutely lovely.

孩子们放假了，都乐坏了。

The kids are on holiday and thrilled about it.

Common traps

  • No 得 before 极了: say 好极了, not 好得极了.
  • Don’t add 很 when the complement already says “very”: say 忙得很 or 很忙, not 很忙得很; say 高兴极了, not 非常高兴极了.
  • 坏了 for “extremely” suits unpleasant states and strong feelings: 累坏了, 饿坏了. For nice things like the weather use 极了: 天气好极了, not 天气好坏了.

Targeted drill

Practice this exact pattern before moving on.

他高兴 。

He is extremely happy
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