<p>This sentence structure arises in a sentence with a verb which has both <strong>an object</strong> and <strong>a complement</strong>.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>...a single verb cannot be followed by both an object and a complement...<br />
<sub><a href="https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Degree_complement#Degree_Complements_with_Objects" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Degree Complements with Objects</a>, Chinese Grammar Wiki</sub></p>
</blockquote>
<p>One workaround (there are others) is to structure the sentence so as to repeat the verb.  Ordinarily it arises in examples using 得 instead of 了, such as in:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>你<strong>洗</strong>碗<strong>洗得</strong>干净。  (You wash clean the dishes.)</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The use of 了 in this context indicates how far the verb has proceeded thus far, so while the complement doesn't have to be exactly 多长时间, it's restricted in some ways.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>你<strong>写</strong>字<strong>写了</strong>多久?  (How long have you written characters for?)<br />
你<strong>跑</strong>步<strong>跑了</strong>多远?  (How far did you run?)</p>
</blockquote>
<p>It's possible to write sentences using a structure where there are two distinct verbs, although it feels like a different grammar structure:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>我<strong>在</strong>大学<strong>学了</strong>两年汉语。  (I studied Chinese for two years at university.)</p>
</blockquote>
<p>It's not related to <a href="https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Reduplication_of_verbs" rel="nofollow noreferrer">reduplication of verbs</a>.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-12-01T00:55:15.923Z
In 我在大学学了两年汉语, it only has one verb.
dan
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-12-01T05:00:54.677Z
In the last example 在 is a preposition
julian
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-11-30T13:58:31.680Z
2020-11-30T13:58:31.680Z
Becky 李蓓
<p>Though I don't believe it is necessary for the example sentence you gave, there are cases where you're required to repeat the verb. I'd just post this as a comment if I could but I think this image sums it up nicely:</p>
<p><a href="https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/degree_complement" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/degree_complement</a>
<img src="https://i.sstatic.net/Lc078.jpg" alt="enter image description here" /></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-11-30T13:52:14.653Z
2020-11-30T13:52:14.653Z
小奥利奥
<p>I'm learning Chinese by studying <a href="http://www.zhongwenred.com/index.htm" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Zhongwen Red (中文 Red)</a>.</p>
<p>I've come across the following sentence: 林先生找工作找了多长时间?  This sentence is from <a href="http://www.zhongwenred.com/R67.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://www.zhongwenred.com/R67.html</a>.</p>
<p>This webpage spaces out the words and translates it like the following:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>林 先生 <strong>找 工作 找了</strong> 多长时间?</p>
<p>Lín xiānsheng zhǎo gōngzuò zhǎole duō cháng shíjiān?</p>
<p><strong>For how long has Mr. Lin been looking for work?</strong></p>
</blockquote>
<p>I'm wondering what the grammatical construct <code>找 工作 找了</code> means.  Is the general format <code>verb1 object verb2 了</code>?</p>
<p>I have a couple questions about this:</p>
<ol>
<li>What are some examples of sentences in this same format?</li>
<li>In <code>verb1 object verb2 了</code>, do both <code>verb1</code> and <code>verb2</code> have to be the same verb?  If not, could you give some example sentences where they are not the same verb?</li>
<li>Does this construct need to be followed some word like <code>多长时间</code>?</li>
<li>Does this have any relation to <a href="https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Reduplication_of_verbs" rel="nofollow noreferrer">reduplication of verbs</a>?</li>
<li>Does this grammar form have any meaning without the 了 after verb2?</li>
</ol>

<verbs>
what is the grammar form where 找 is used twice in the sentence 林先生找工作找了多长时间?
# what is the grammar form where 找 is used twice in the sentence 林先生找工作找了多长时间?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-11-30)

I'm learning Chinese by studying [Zhongwen Red (中文 Red)](http://www.zhongwenred.com/index.htm).

I've come across the following sentence: 林先生找工作找了多长时间? This sentence is from <http://www.zhongwenred.com/R67.html>.

This webpage spaces out the words and translates it like the following:

> 林 先生 **找 工作 找了** 多长时间?
>
> Lín xiānsheng zhǎo gōngzuò zhǎole duō cháng shíjiān?
>
> **For how long has Mr. Lin been looking for work?**

I'm wondering what the grammatical construct `找 工作 找了` means. Is the general format `verb1 object verb2 了`?

I have a couple questions about this:

1. What are some examples of sentences in this same format?
2. In `verb1 object verb2 了`, do both `verb1` and `verb2` have to be the same verb? If not, could you give some example sentences where they are not the same verb?
3. Does this construct need to be followed some word like `多长时间`?
4. Does this have any relation to [reduplication of verbs](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Reduplication_of_verbs)?
5. Does this grammar form have any meaning without the 了 after verb2?

**Tags:** verbs


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2020-11-30. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

This sentence structure arises in a sentence with a verb which has both **an object** and **a complement**.

> ...a single verb cannot be followed by both an object and a complement...  
> [Degree Complements with Objects](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Degree_complement#Degree_Complements_with_Objects), Chinese Grammar Wiki

One workaround (there are others) is to structure the sentence so as to repeat the verb. Ordinarily it arises in examples using 得 instead of 了, such as in:

> 你**洗**碗**洗得**干净。 (You wash clean the dishes.)

The use of 了 in this context indicates how far the verb has proceeded thus far, so while the complement doesn't have to be exactly 多长时间, it's restricted in some ways.

> 你**写**字**写了**多久? (How long have you written characters for?)  
> 你**跑**步**跑了**多远? (How far did you run?)

It's possible to write sentences using a structure where there are two distinct verbs, although it feels like a different grammar structure:

> 我**在**大学**学了**两年汉语。 (I studied Chinese for two years at university.)

It's not related to [reduplication of verbs](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Reduplication_of_verbs).

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: In 我在大学学了两年汉语, it only has one verb.  
> **username_3**: In the last example 在 is a preposition  

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### Answer by username_4 on 2020-11-30. Score: 4

Though I don't believe it is necessary for the example sentence you gave, there are cases where you're required to repeat the verb. I'd just post this as a comment if I could but I think this image sums it up nicely:

<https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/degree_complement>
![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/Lc078.jpg)


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