<p>I will suggest my ideas (probably there are some mistakes, so please point them out). For each case I believe there can be several possibilities.</p>
<ol>
<li><p><code>Verb + Adj</code> :</p>
<ul>
<li><p><code>Adj</code> is an adverb <strong><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relative_clause#Restrictive_and_non-restrictive" rel="nofollow noreferrer">defining or restricting</a></strong> the meaning of the <code>Verb</code>. For example,</p>
<blockquote>
<p>一个人会走快很多，但两个人好像更有趣。</p>
<p>Yīgèrén huì zǒu kuài hěnduō, dàn liǎng gè rén hǎoxiàng gèng yǒuqù.</p>
<p>One person walks a lot faster, but two people seem to be more interesting.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Here, 快很多 is an adverb that specifies a relevant characteristic of the verb <em>to walk</em>. The important idea is not <em>to walk</em> but <em>to walk a lot faster</em>.</p>
</li>
<li><p>The <code>... + Verb</code> is the <strong>subject</strong> of the adjectival verb <code>Adj</code>. For example:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>我们出去好。</p>
<p>Wǒmen chūqù hǎo.</p>
<p>It would be good if we go out.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Here, 我们出去 (we go out) is the subject of the adjectival verb 好 (is good).</p>
</li>
<li><p>The <code>Adj</code> is the <strong>direct object</strong> of the <code>Verb</code>. For example:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>我觉得很惭愧。</p>
<p>Wǒ juédé hěn cánkuì.</p>
<p>I feel very embarassed.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Here, 很惭愧 (very embarassed) is the direct object of the verb 觉得 (to feel).</p>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><p><code>Adj + Verb</code>:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>If the <code>Adj</code> is an <strong>adverb of time</strong>, it signals the time of the action. Such is the case of 快 which can also mean <em>soon</em>. For example:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>他快回来了。</p>
<p>Tā kuài huíláile.</p>
<p>He'll be back soon.</p>
</blockquote>
</li>
<li><p>The <code>Adj</code> is actually a <strong>verb</strong>. For example:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>我每天都努力学习.</p>
<p>Wǒ měitiān dū nǔlì xuéxí.</p>
<p>I study hard every day.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>努力 is a verb meaning <em>to make a great effort</em>. So here we have <code>Verb + Verb</code> and 学习 is the direct object of the verb 努力: <em>to make a great effort studying</em>.</p>
</li>
<li><p>The <code>Adj</code> is placed in the <strong>topic position</strong> but the underlying structure is <code>Verb + Adj</code>. For example:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>这道题很难解。</p>
<p>Zhè dào tí hěn nán jiě.</p>
<p>This problem is difficult to solve.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Here, 这道题很难 is the object + verb placed in the topic position. We can rearrange the sentence to its &quot;natural&quot; order:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>解这道题很难。</p>
<p>Jiě zhè dào tí hěn nán.</p>
<p>It is difficult to solve this problem.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>We see that actually 解这道题 (to solve this problem) is the subject of the adjectival verb 很难 (very difficult).</p>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><p><code>Verb + 得 + Adj</code>: The adjective <strong>describes</strong> (instead of restricting) <strong>the manner or the result</strong> of the state of an action. For example:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>他走得很慢。</p>
<p>Tā zǒu dé hěn màn.</p>
<p>He walks (in a manner) very slowly.</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p>他教得累了。</p>
<p>Tā jiào de lèile.</p>
<p>He taught so much (to the result) that he is tired.</p>
</blockquote>
</li>
<li><p><code>Adj + 地 + Verb</code>: The <code>Adj + 地</code> is an adverb that <strong>defines or restricts</strong> the <strong>manner</strong> in which the action is carried in a <strong>particular situation</strong>. Because of this, it can be used for commands. For example:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>你快快地跑。</p>
<p>Nǐ kuài kuài dì pǎo.</p>
<p>Run quickly!</p>
</blockquote>
</li>
</ol>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-27T12:07:19.743Z
2020-08-28T09:00:57.450Z
2020-08-28T09:00:57.450Z
Puco4
<p>The thing about descriptive phrases is, you can almost always leave them out. They are useful but unnecessary for minimal communication. If you have a long, complicated sentence, try to remove all descriptive phrases, then it will be much easier to understand.</p>
<ol>
<li>走快了她会累。-&gt; 走了她会累。<br />
(If she) walks fast she gets tired. -&gt; (If she) walks she gets tired.</li>
</ol>
<p>You can gloss this as:</p>
<p>Walking fast makes her tired -&gt; Walking makes her tired.</p>
<p>'Walking' is a gerund, a noun. 走 is then the Chinese equivalent of 'Walking' here.</p>
<ol start="2">
<li>我们快走。-&gt; 我们走。</li>
</ol>
<p>We're leaving soon. -&gt; We're leaving.<br />
'leaving' is a gerundive, an adjective, but you can't leave it out too or you will be left with: We're.<br />
(Nice to know you exist, but not much information)</p>
<ol start="3">
<li>你的表走得快，还是走得慢? -&gt; 你的表走得，还是走得? -&gt; 你的表走，还是走?</li>
</ol>
<p>(reductio ad absurdum, no information. You need the 得快、得慢 = how)</p>
<p>Does your watch go fast or go slow? -&gt; Does your watch go or go?
(fast and slow are the 'how' in 'Your watch goes how'?)</p>
<ol start="4">
<li>一个打杂的很快地走过来了。-&gt; 一个打杂的走过来了。<br />
A worker quickly came over. -&gt; A worker came over.</li>
</ol>
<p>(All these '-&gt;', I think I'm back in PHP!)</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-25T23:07:22.307Z
2020-08-25T23:07:22.307Z
Pedroski
<p>I am having some difficulties understanding the differences in meaning between the following structures (the examples are from <a href="https://dict.naver.com/linedict/zhendict/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Line dictionary</a>):</p>
<ol>
<li><p><code>Verb + Adj</code></p>
<p>e.g:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>走快</strong>了她会累。</p>
<p><strong>Zŏu kuài</strong> le tā huì lĕi.</p>
<p>Walking quickly tires her.</p>
</blockquote>
</li>
<li><p><code>Adj + Verb</code></p>
<p>e.g:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>我们<strong>快走</strong>。</p>
<p>Wŏmen <strong>kuài zŏu</strong>.</p>
<p>Let's go!</p>
</blockquote>
</li>
<li><p><code>Verb + 得 + Adj</code></p>
<p>e.g:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>你的表<strong>走得快</strong>，还是走得慢?</p>
<p>Nĭ de biăo <strong>zŏudékuài</strong>，háishì zŏudémàn?</p>
<p>Does your watch gain or lose?</p>
</blockquote>
</li>
<li><p><code>Adj + 地 + Verb</code></p>
<p>e.g:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>一个打杂的很<strong>快地走</strong>过来了。</p>
<p>Yīgè dăzá de hĕn<strong>kuài dì zŏu</strong> guòlái le.</p>
<p>Very soon a cleaner marched over.</p>
</blockquote>
</li>
</ol>
<p>I know this topic has been asked partially (except structures 1. and 2.) in:</p>
<p><a href="https://chinese.stackexchange.com/q/10596/25265">Difference in MEANING (NOT structure) between 得 vs 地</a></p>
<p><a href="https://chinese.stackexchange.com/q/10235/25265">what is difference using of &quot;地&quot; and &quot;得&quot;</a></p>
<p><a href="https://chinese.stackexchange.com/q/89/25265">的-地-得, when do you use which?</a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-25T20:01:41.550Z
Are you sure it is Verb + Adj? [走(v) + 快了(adv) | 我们(n) + 快(adv) + 走(verb) | 很快地(adv) +走过 (verb)] | 走(v) + 得(potential particle) + 快 (adv)]
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-25T23:40:55.900Z
I don't understand your question.  You already got the meanings of those sentences. You should know the difference in meaning from those English translations.
dan
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-26T07:25:33.887Z
@dan I just copied some examples from the dictionary but I don't completely understand the differences of the meanings. I expected an answer that would first explain in general the meaning of the structures and then link to these particular examples (or some others) to explain them.
Puco4
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-26T08:05:57.987Z
@TangHo I used "Adj" purely for terminology (I didn't know how to express the structures otherwise), even though they might have a different grammatical function there. An otherwise adjective working as the verb in a sentence can be referred as *adjectival verb* (maybe analogously we can use the term *adjectival adverb* for adverbs derived from adjectives).
Puco4
<grammar><meaning><usage><difference><sentence-structure>
Differences between "Verb + Adj", "Adj + Verb", "Verb + 得 + Adj" and "Adj + 地 + Verb"?
# Differences between "Verb + Adj", "Adj + Verb", "Verb + 得 + Adj" and "Adj + 地 + Verb"?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-08-25)

I am having some difficulties understanding the differences in meaning between the following structures (the examples are from [Line dictionary](https://dict.naver.com/linedict/zhendict/)):

1. `Verb + Adj`

   e.g:

   > **走快**了她会累。
   >
   > **Zŏu kuài** le tā huì lĕi.
   >
   > Walking quickly tires her.
2. `Adj + Verb`

   e.g:

   > 我们**快走**。
   >
   > Wŏmen **kuài zŏu**.
   >
   > Let's go!
3. `Verb + 得 + Adj`

   e.g:

   > 你的表**走得快**，还是走得慢?
   >
   > Nĭ de biăo **zŏudékuài**，háishì zŏudémàn?
   >
   > Does your watch gain or lose?
4. `Adj + 地 + Verb`

   e.g:

   > 一个打杂的很**快地走**过来了。
   >
   > Yīgè dăzá de hĕn**kuài dì zŏu** guòlái le.
   >
   > Very soon a cleaner marched over.

I know this topic has been asked partially (except structures 1. and 2.) in:

[Difference in MEANING (NOT structure) between 得 vs 地](https://chinese.stackexchange.com/q/10596/25265)

[what is difference using of "地" and "得"](https://chinese.stackexchange.com/q/10235/25265)

[的-地-得, when do you use which?](https://chinese.stackexchange.com/q/89/25265)

**Tags:** grammar, meaning, usage, difference, sentence-structure

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Are you sure it is Verb + Adj? [走(v) + 快了(adv) | 我们(n) + 快(adv) + 走(verb) | 很快地(adv) +走过 (verb)] | 走(v) + 得(potential particle) + 快 (adv)]  
> **username_2**: I don't understand your question.  You already got the meanings of those sentences. You should know the difference in meaning from those English translations.  
> **username_0**: @username_2 I just copied some examples from the dictionary but I don't completely understand the differences of the meanings. I expected an answer that would first explain in general the meaning of the structures and then link to these particular examples (or some others) to explain them.  
> **username_0**: @TangHo I used "Adj" purely for terminology (I didn't know how to express the structures otherwise), even though they might have a different grammatical function there. An otherwise adjective working as the verb in a sentence can be referred as *adjectival verb* (maybe analogously we can use the term *adjectival adverb* for adverbs derived from adjectives).  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_0 on 2020-08-27. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

I will suggest my ideas (probably there are some mistakes, so please point them out). For each case I believe there can be several possibilities.

1. `Verb + Adj` :

   * `Adj` is an adverb **[defining or restricting](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relative_clause#Restrictive_and_non-restrictive)** the meaning of the `Verb`. For example,

     > 一个人会走快很多，但两个人好像更有趣。
     >
     > Yīgèrén huì zǒu kuài hěnduō, dàn liǎng gè rén hǎoxiàng gèng yǒuqù.
     >
     > One person walks a lot faster, but two people seem to be more interesting.

     Here, 快很多 is an adverb that specifies a relevant characteristic of the verb *to walk*. The important idea is not *to walk* but *to walk a lot faster*.
   * The `... + Verb` is the **subject** of the adjectival verb `Adj`. For example:

     > 我们出去好。
     >
     > Wǒmen chūqù hǎo.
     >
     > It would be good if we go out.

     Here, 我们出去 (we go out) is the subject of the adjectival verb 好 (is good).
   * The `Adj` is the **direct object** of the `Verb`. For example:

     > 我觉得很惭愧。
     >
     > Wǒ juédé hěn cánkuì.
     >
     > I feel very embarassed.

     Here, 很惭愧 (very embarassed) is the direct object of the verb 觉得 (to feel).
2. `Adj + Verb`:

   * If the `Adj` is an **adverb of time**, it signals the time of the action. Such is the case of 快 which can also mean *soon*. For example:

     > 他快回来了。
     >
     > Tā kuài huíláile.
     >
     > He'll be back soon.
   * The `Adj` is actually a **verb**. For example:

     > 我每天都努力学习.
     >
     > Wǒ měitiān dū nǔlì xuéxí.
     >
     > I study hard every day.

     努力 is a verb meaning *to make a great effort*. So here we have `Verb + Verb` and 学习 is the direct object of the verb 努力: *to make a great effort studying*.
   * The `Adj` is placed in the **topic position** but the underlying structure is `Verb + Adj`. For example:

     > 这道题很难解。
     >
     > Zhè dào tí hěn nán jiě.
     >
     > This problem is difficult to solve.

     Here, 这道题很难 is the object + verb placed in the topic position. We can rearrange the sentence to its "natural" order:

     > 解这道题很难。
     >
     > Jiě zhè dào tí hěn nán.
     >
     > It is difficult to solve this problem.

     We see that actually 解这道题 (to solve this problem) is the subject of the adjectival verb 很难 (very difficult).
3. `Verb + 得 + Adj`: The adjective **describes** (instead of restricting) **the manner or the result** of the state of an action. For example:

   > 他走得很慢。
   >
   > Tā zǒu dé hěn màn.
   >
   > He walks (in a manner) very slowly.

   > 他教得累了。
   >
   > Tā jiào de lèile.
   >
   > He taught so much (to the result) that he is tired.
4. `Adj + 地 + Verb`: The `Adj + 地` is an adverb that **defines or restricts** the **manner** in which the action is carried in a **particular situation**. Because of this, it can be used for commands. For example:

   > 你快快地跑。
   >
   > Nǐ kuài kuài dì pǎo.
   >
   > Run quickly!


---

### Answer by username_3 on 2020-08-25. Score: 0

The thing about descriptive phrases is, you can almost always leave them out. They are useful but unnecessary for minimal communication. If you have a long, complicated sentence, try to remove all descriptive phrases, then it will be much easier to understand.

1. 走快了她会累。-> 走了她会累。  
   (If she) walks fast she gets tired. -> (If she) walks she gets tired.

You can gloss this as:

Walking fast makes her tired -> Walking makes her tired.

'Walking' is a gerund, a noun. 走 is then the Chinese equivalent of 'Walking' here.

2. 我们快走。-> 我们走。

We're leaving soon. -> We're leaving.  
'leaving' is a gerundive, an adjective, but you can't leave it out too or you will be left with: We're.  
(Nice to know you exist, but not much information)

3. 你的表走得快，还是走得慢? -> 你的表走得，还是走得? -> 你的表走，还是走?

(reductio ad absurdum, no information. You need the 得快、得慢 = how)

Does your watch go fast or go slow? -> Does your watch go or go?
(fast and slow are the 'how' in 'Your watch goes how'?)

4. 一个打杂的很快地走过来了。-> 一个打杂的走过来了。  
   A worker quickly came over. -> A worker came over.

(All these '->', I think I'm back in PHP!)


---

