Skip to content
HSK 2.0 Level 3+ HSK 3.0 Level 3+ 6 min read

Repeating the Verb: 说汉语说得很好

Repeat the verb when it has both an object and a complement, as in 他说汉语说得很好 and 我看书看了两个小时.

Pattern

Subject + verb + object + same verb + complement (得…… / 了 + time / result)

A verb can’t carry both an object and a 得 complement, so say the verb twice: 说汉语说得很好.

他说汉语说得很好。

When to use Repeating the Verb: 说汉语说得很好

When a verb has an object and you also want to add a 得 complement, a length of time, or a result about the subject such as 累, the verb is usually said twice: first with its object, then again with the complement: 他说汉语说得很好。 The first verb + object names the activity, and the second verb carries the complement: 得 + a description, 了 + a length of time, or a result such as 累. The object can never go after 得.

我看书看了两个小时。

I read for two hours.

他找你找了半天。

He was looking for you for ages.

我等他等累了。

I got tired of waiting for him.

他玩手机玩到十二点才睡觉。

He was on his phone until twelve before going to sleep.

Common traps

  • Don’t put the object after 得 or right before it: say 他说汉语说得很好 or 他汉语说得很好, not 他说汉语得很好 or 他说得汉语很好.
  • Put 了 on the second verb: 我看书看了两个小时, not 我看了书看两个小时.
  • Don’t put the object after the time: say 我等他等了很久 or 我等了他很久, not 我等了很久他.

Targeted drill

Practice this exact pattern before moving on.

这是我买 书

This is the book I bought
Fill in the missing piece, then press Enter

How we make our content