| RESULT COMPLEMENT
In Chinese we often happen to find another verb directly after the main verb: it is used to express the result of the action expressed by the main verb itself. Some V + RES associations have become idioms and their meaning may be abstract and not easy to udnerstand, but in general, when translating a result complement, we must keep in mind that the subject, performing the action expressed by the verb, gets to the condition expressed by the result complement.
1. Positive form: |
|  | He is right. (to speak + to be right) |
|  | He sits there. (to sit + to stay) |
|  | You wrote wrong. (to write + to make a mistake) |
| N.B.: the result complement is only used with past actions, and is therefore often followed by a le. |
| 2. Negative form: |
|  | I dind't hear what he said.
(to listen + RES used with V expressing sensations) |
|  | She hasn't moved there yet.
(to move + to arrive) |
| N.B.: since the action has ended, never use bu to deny a V + RES construction, but only mei. |
| 3. Interrogative form: |
|  | Have you seen him?
(to look + RES used with V expressing sensations) |
|  | idem |
| N.B.: of course in the V + NEG + V question, the negative will be mei and not bu. |
| 4. Which specification? |
|  | I'm full.
(to eat + to be full) |
|  | The child broke all glasses to pieces.
(smash + break to pieces) |
| N.B.: in general, a verb may be followed by different results, but there are some compulsory associations. Complements like wan, hao, dao and zai may apply to various situations. If you stumble upon an unusual V + RES construction, you can always try to guess it by the meaning of its two components. |
