Encyclopedia of Chinese Language and Linguistics

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Resultatives
(6,947 words)

Resultative constructions consist of a main verb denoting some event and a secondary predicate expressing the result of the event, as e.g., English I hammered the metal flat. Chinese has two kinds of resultative constructions: the resultative phrase, which has the form V-de 得 VP/S, and resultative V-V compounds. 

1. The Resultative Phrase

The resultative phrase has been analyzed as a biclausal structure, consisting of a matrix verb and a r…

Cite this page
Bianca BASCIANO, “Resultatives”, in: Encyclopedia of Chinese Language and Linguistics, General Editor Rint Sybesma. Consulted online on 20 March 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2210-7363_ecll_COM_00000358>
First published online: 2015



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