<ol>
<li><p>Yes. 表达 isn't a VO, it can't be split like you're trying to split it.</p></li>
<li><p>No. 表 isn't used by itself as a verb like that. </p></li>
</ol>

<p>Also you could just opt for something much simpler like: <em>已经说得很清楚</em>, rather than the mouthful that your current sentence would become.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-08-20T07:53:14.003Z
Agree: Both 表(show)  and 达(express) are verb
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-08-20T06:40:58.647Z
2019-08-20T06:40:58.647Z
Mou某
<p>I thought I have finally been able to wrap my head around this structure, but it seems no, not really.</p>

<p>So I have seen this sentence:</p>

<p>昨晚我的朋友_表达_得很明确。</p>

<p>But according to my native speaker friend, you cannot say:</p>

<p>昨晚我的朋友_表达表_得很明确。</p>

<p>However, he also said you can make the following sentence:</p>

<p>昨晚我的朋友_表达_意思_表达_得很明确。</p>

<p>My thinking was that verb repeating kicks in when there is an object, but then he made this sentence:</p>

<p>昨晚我的朋友_讲话讲_得很明确。</p>

<p>Hence my questions:</p>

<ol>
<li>Does this mismatch come from the fact that 表达 is just a verb, while 讲话 is technically a verb + object, just like 游泳，吃饭，放假 etc.?</li>
<li>Can I just say _表达_意思_表 without repeating the 达 part, as in 他_讲课讲_得好, 每年冬天我们_放假放_三个星期 etc.?</li>
</ol>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-08-20T08:09:08.410Z
See my answer to this question: https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/34510/double-overlapping-separable-verbs Both 表(show) and 达(express) are verb
Tang Ho
<grammar><syntax>
Why can't I repeat the verb with degree complement in “昨晚我的朋友表达得很明确”?
# Why can't I repeat the verb with degree complement in “昨晚我的朋友表达得很明确”?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-08-20)

I thought I have finally been able to wrap my head around this structure, but it seems no, not really.

So I have seen this sentence:

昨晚我的朋友\_表达\_得很明确。

But according to my native speaker friend, you cannot say:

昨晚我的朋友\_表达表\_得很明确。

However, he also said you can make the following sentence:

昨晚我的朋友\_表达\_意思\_表达\_得很明确。

My thinking was that verb repeating kicks in when there is an object, but then he made this sentence:

昨晚我的朋友\_讲话讲\_得很明确。

Hence my questions:

1. Does this mismatch come from the fact that 表达 is just a verb, while 讲话 is technically a verb + object, just like 游泳，吃饭，放假 etc.?
2. Can I just say \_表达\_意思\_表 without repeating the 达 part, as in 他\_讲课讲\_得好, 每年冬天我们\_放假放\_三个星期 etc.?

**Tags:** grammar, syntax

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: See my answer to this question: https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/34510/double-overlapping-separable-verbs Both 表(show) and 达(express) are verb  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2019-08-20. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

1. Yes. 表达 isn't a VO, it can't be split like you're trying to split it.
2. No. 表 isn't used by itself as a verb like that.

Also you could just opt for something much simpler like: *已经说得很清楚*, rather than the mouthful that your current sentence would become.

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Agree: Both 表(show)  and 达(express) are verb  

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