Resultative Verb Endings

Mandarin Chinese has a class of verb suffixes called Resultative Verb Endings. They are used with Functive Verbs (Action Verbs) to show the outcome of that action.

There are two basic types of Resultative Verb Endings (RVE) – those that show the actual result of an action, and those that show the possible result of an action.
Actual Resultative Verb Endings

When we want to indicate the result of a particular action, like reading a book, we can include a RVE such as finished - 這本書我看完了。/ 这本书我看完了。(zhè běn shū wǒ kàn wán le.)

In this sentence, the Functive Verb 看 (kàn) (read) is supplemented by the RVE 完 (wán) (finished). The final character 了 (le) shows that the action is completed.
Questions Using the Actual RVE

Questions are formed by adding the question tag 嗎 / 吗 ma, or the positive/negative 沒有 / 没有 (méiyǒu) to the RVE:

    這本書你看完了沒有?
    这本书你看完了没有?
    zhè běn shū nǐ kàn wán le méiyǒu?
    Have you finished reading this book?

Positive Answers with the Actual RVE

Positive answers to a question using the RVE are in the form of SUBJECT – FUNCTIVE VERB – RVE – LE:

    我看完了。
    wǒ kàn wán le.
    I’ve finished reading it.

Negative Answers with the Actual RVE

Negative answers to a questions using the RVE are in the form of SUBJECT – ADVERB – MEI – FUNCTIVE VERB – RVE:

    我還沒看完。
    我还没看完。
    wǒ hái méi kàn wán.
    I haven’t finished it yet.

Possible Resultative Verb Endings

The other form of Resultative Verb Ending (RVE) shows the possible results of an action:

    這本書我看得完。
    这本书我看得完。
    zhè běn shū wǒ kàn dé wán.
    I am able to finish reading this book.

The particle 得 dé in this sentence shows that there is a possibility that the Functive Verb action will be achieved.

Questions Using the Possible RVE

Questions are formed with the question tag 嗎 / 吗 ma:

    這本書你看得完嗎?
    这本书你看得完吗?
    zhè běn shū nǐ kàn dé wán ma?
    Are you able to finish reading this book?

Positive Answers with the Possible RVE

Positive answers to a question using the RVE are in the form of SUBJECT – FUNCTIVE VERB – DE – RVE:

    我看得完。
    wǒ kàn dé wán.
    I am able to finish reading it.

Negative Answers with the Possible RVE

Negative answers to a questions using the RVE are in the form of SUBJECT –FUNCTIVE VERB – BU – RVE:

    我看不完。
    wǒ kàn bù wán.
    I am not able to finish reading it.