踢球踢得很好 · 看球看了二十年
say the verb twice when it has an object: once with the object, once with 得 (how well) or 了 (how long)
Structure
主语 + 动词 + 宾语 + 动词 + 得 + 补语 · 主语 + 动词 + 宾语 + 动词 + 了 + 时间
What it means
When a verb has an object, say the verb twice: once with the object, then again with 得 (how well) or 了 + a length of time (how long).
How it is built
Subject + verb + object + same verb + 得 + comment / 了 + time: 他踢球踢得非常好 (He plays football really well); 我学汉语学了两年了 (I’ve been learning Chinese for two years).
When to use it
Needed because 得 or a length of time can’t come straight after the object. Shorter options: drop the first verb (他球踢得很好) or put the time before the object (我学了两年汉语).
Watch out
✗ 他踢球得很好 ✓ 他踢球踢得很好. ✗ 我学了汉语两年 ✓ 我学汉语学了两年 / 我学了两年汉语.
Examples
他踢球踢得非常好。
He plays football really well.
我学汉语学了两年了。
I’ve been learning Chinese for two years.
我们等这场决赛等了一年。
We waited a whole year for this final.
Learn this in HSK 3 · Lesson 23: 看足球 (The big match)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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