Modal complements

A complement is the part that follows a verb or adjective to indicate a supplement. Modal complements describe or estimate the result of a particular action. Generally, the function is served by adjectives or adjective phrases. The verb and the modal complement must be connected by an auxiliary word.

For example:

考得好不好

kǎo de hǎobùhǎo

do well in the exam or not

跑得快不快

pǎo de kuàibùkuài

run fast or not

Exercises: Make sentences with modal complements

For example:

玩 高兴

Play happily

玩得高兴不高兴

1. 跳 高

jump high

2. 看清楚

see clearly

Buzzwords

1.深造 shēnzào

to take an advanced course of study

越来越多 的 大学生 毕业 后 选择 出国 深造。

Yuèláiyuèduō de dàxuéshēng bìyè hòu xuǎnzé chūguó shēnzào.

More and more college students choose to go overseas to do postgraduate work.

2.就业 jiùyè

to take up an occupation

目前 的 就业 形势 很 严峻。

Mùqián de jiùyè xíngshì hěn yánjùn.

The current employment situation is quite severe.

3.求职 qiúzhí

to apply for a job

很多 年轻人 利用 网络 求职。

Hěnduō niánqīngrén lìyòng wǎngluò qiúzhí.

Many young people apply for jobs on the Internet.

4.下岗 xiàgăng

lose one’s job

这个 工厂 的 工人 都 很 担心 下岗。

Zhègè gōngchǎng de gōngrén dōu hěn dānxīn xiàgăng.

Workers in this factory all worry about losing their jobs.

5.炒鱿鱼 chăoyóuyú

to be fired

不 认真 工作 会 被 炒鱿鱼。

Bú rènzhēn gōngzuò huì bèi chăoyóuyú.

You’ll be fired if you don’t work hard.