<p>this seems very analogous to the way we speak in English, i didnt even consider it anything special when I encountered it the first time;  到 means &quot;to&quot; and is being used in the exact same way we'd say &quot;sad to the point of tears&quot; or &quot;happy to no end&quot; in English.</p>
<p>So (some state) + 到 + (the extent/result of that state) reads exactly as it would in English. In your case it would be poor + to + (the extent of) only being able to eat dirt</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-10T19:02:43.733Z
2020-08-10T19:02:43.733Z
小奥利奥
<p>Your understanding is mostly right</p>
<p>“A 到 B 了” means &quot;become so A that have got into the condition of B&quot;</p>
<ul>
<li>A: adj, but used as a verb, which means &quot;become A&quot;</li>
<li>B: a condition</li>
</ul>
<p>&quot;只能吃土&quot; is a 状态 (condition) so it is the same as &quot;只能吃土的状态&quot;。</p>
<p>&quot;到~&quot; means &quot;getting into&quot; a 状态.</p>
<p>&quot;了&quot; means finished. There might be no &quot;了&quot;, depending on the tense.</p>
<p>Correct example:</p>
<ul>
<li>我很穷，（已经）<strong>穷到只能吃土了</strong></li>
<li>我很穷，（已经）<strong>穷到只能吃土的状态了</strong></li>
<li>赌博会让你 <strong>穷到只能吃土</strong></li>
<li>赌博会让你 <strong>穷到只能吃土的状态</strong></li>
</ul>
<hr />
<blockquote>
<p>Is it in fact a structure to create such sentences?</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Yes</p>
<blockquote>
<p>只能吃土的状态了 - I don't even know if I should treat it as a sentence or as a noun. So: what should come after 到?</p>
</blockquote>
<p>As discussed above. 只能吃土的状态 is a 状态 which is a noun. 了 is following 到 indicating the tense.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Is this sentence correct? 累到不会走路的状态</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Correct, but not a complete sentence. Missing subject and tense indicator.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Is this sentence correct? 累到不会走路</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Correct. Same as above</p>
<blockquote>
<p>What's the difference between 穷到只能吃土的状态了 and 穷得只能吃土?</p>
</blockquote>
<p>In 穷到只能吃土的状态, 穷 is an adj. but used as a verb, followed by the extent of this verb.
In 穷得只能吃土, 穷 is just an adj. followed by an adverb.</p>
<p>Both are correct and mean the same.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-10T18:40:08.540Z
2020-08-11T00:57:58.767Z
2020-08-11T00:57:58.767Z
River
<p>I've just stumbled across this sentence:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>&quot;吃土&quot; 表示自己没有钱了，很穷，穷到只能吃土的状态了</p>
</blockquote>
<p>I'm interested in <em>穷到只能吃土的状态了</em>. It means &quot;so poor that they can only eat soil&quot;. But it seems that adjective + 到 + description is a structure to say &quot;so ... that ...&quot;.</p>
<ol>
<li>Is it in fact a structure to create such sentences?</li>
<li><em>只能吃土的状态了</em> - I don't even know if I should treat it as a sentence or as a noun. So: what should come after 到?</li>
<li>Is this sentence correct? 累到不会走路的状态</li>
<li>Is this sentence correct? 累到不会走路</li>
<li>What's the difference between 穷到只能吃土的状态了 and 穷得只能吃土?</li>
</ol>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-11T00:39:30.363Z
2 了 is not part of the phrase. It ia attached to 穷到
fefe
<expressions><adverbs><adjectives>
Adj. + 到 to express an extent
# Adj. + 到 to express an extent

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-08-10)

I've just stumbled across this sentence:

> "吃土" 表示自己没有钱了，很穷，穷到只能吃土的状态了

I'm interested in *穷到只能吃土的状态了*. It means "so poor that they can only eat soil". But it seems that adjective + 到 + description is a structure to say "so ... that ...".

1. Is it in fact a structure to create such sentences?
2. *只能吃土的状态了* - I don't even know if I should treat it as a sentence or as a noun. So: what should come after 到?
3. Is this sentence correct? 累到不会走路的状态
4. Is this sentence correct? 累到不会走路
5. What's the difference between 穷到只能吃土的状态了 and 穷得只能吃土?

**Tags:** expressions, adverbs, adjectives

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: 2 了 is not part of the phrase. It ia attached to 穷到  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2020-08-10. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

Your understanding is mostly right

“A 到 B 了” means "become so A that have got into the condition of B"

* A: adj, but used as a verb, which means "become A"
* B: a condition

"只能吃土" is a 状态 (condition) so it is the same as "只能吃土的状态"。

"到~" means "getting into" a 状态.

"了" means finished. There might be no "了", depending on the tense.

Correct example:

* 我很穷，（已经）**穷到只能吃土了**
* 我很穷，（已经）**穷到只能吃土的状态了**
* 赌博会让你 **穷到只能吃土**
* 赌博会让你 **穷到只能吃土的状态**

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> Is it in fact a structure to create such sentences?

Yes

> 只能吃土的状态了 - I don't even know if I should treat it as a sentence or as a noun. So: what should come after 到?

As discussed above. 只能吃土的状态 is a 状态 which is a noun. 了 is following 到 indicating the tense.

> Is this sentence correct? 累到不会走路的状态

Correct, but not a complete sentence. Missing subject and tense indicator.

> Is this sentence correct? 累到不会走路

Correct. Same as above

> What's the difference between 穷到只能吃土的状态了 and 穷得只能吃土?

In 穷到只能吃土的状态, 穷 is an adj. but used as a verb, followed by the extent of this verb.
In 穷得只能吃土, 穷 is just an adj. followed by an adverb.

Both are correct and mean the same.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2020-08-10. Score: 1

this seems very analogous to the way we speak in English, i didnt even consider it anything special when I encountered it the first time; 到 means "to" and is being used in the exact same way we'd say "sad to the point of tears" or "happy to no end" in English.

So (some state) + 到 + (the extent/result of that state) reads exactly as it would in English. In your case it would be poor + to + (the extent of) only being able to eat dirt


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