3 · The particle de and modification
Three characters for one sound: de, de and de
the particles before a noun, before a verb and after a verb
One neutral-tone de is written three ways: before a noun, before a verb, and after a verb.
In speech there is only one de, in the neutral tone. In writing there are three, and the position decides which. 的 stands before a noun and joins a description to it: 认真的学生, a conscientious student. 地 stands before a verb and turns the description into the manner of the action: 认真地学习, to study conscientiously. 得 stands after a verb and introduces a judgement of how it went: 他学得很认真, he studies conscientiously.
So the test is the neighbour. A noun after it: 的. A verb after it: 地. A verb before it: 得. One adjective can appear with all three, as 认真 does above, and only the character changes.
地 and 得 are not interchangeable even when both are possible. 地 describes how an action is done as it happens, often a deliberate manner or a mood: 他高兴地说, he said happily. 得 judges the result or an ability: 他说得很好, he speaks well. That is why the adjective after 得 usually carries 很 or another degree word, and why an object forces the verb to be said twice: 他说汉语说得很好.
For English speakers, the trap is the English adverb. “He runs fast” is 他跑得很快 — a judgement of his running. 他很快地跑了 is something else: he quickly ran off, at that moment. And native writers themselves often write 的 for all three in casual texts; recognise it, but keep them apart in your own writing.
The form
| de before a noun | 认真的学生 |
| de before a verb | 认真地学习 |
| de after a verb | 学得很认真 |
| after a verb, with an object | 说汉语说得很好 |
| after a verb, negative | 跑得不快 |
The rules one by one
The form this topic is about
的 comes before a noun.
她是一个很细心的医生。She is a very careful doctor.
地 comes before a verb and describes how the action is done.
他慢慢地走进了房间。He walked slowly into the room.
得 comes after a verb and judges how well or how much.
她唱得非常好。She sings extremely well.
With an object, the verb is said twice before 得.
他开车开得太快了。He drives far too fast.
地 describes one action as it happens; 得 judges a result or an ability.
她认真地看了一遍。She read it through carefully.
A closer look
Kuài de pǎo or pǎo de kuài?
他很快地跑了过去 tells what happened at one moment: he quickly ran over. 他跑得很快 describes his running in general, or judges one run after it is over: he runs fast, he ran fast. English uses “fast” for both and lets the context decide; Chinese chooses a different particle and a different place.
地 is often left out when the word before the verb is short and common: 慢慢走, walk slowly, 快走, go quickly. 得 can never be left out: without it, the adjective after the verb has nothing to attach to.
Exceptions and special cases (1)
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the word before the verb is a doubled adjective or a short, everyday adverb
地 is often dropped in speech.
你慢慢吃。Take your time and enjoy your meal.
The doubled form already marks the manner, so the particle adds nothing a listener needs.
How to spot it
- 的
- 地
- 得
- 得很
Example sentences
这是一个简单的问题。This is a simple question.
他简单地介绍了一下自己。He briefly introduced himself.
他介绍得很简单。His introduction was very brief.
你汉字写得真漂亮！You write Chinese characters beautifully!
雨下得越来越大了。The rain is getting heavier and heavier.
老人慢慢地过了马路。The old man slowly crossed the road.
8 more example sentences
我昨天睡得很晚。I went to bed very late last night.
他是我们班跑得最快的人。He is the fastest runner in our class.
大家安静地听老师讲。Everybody listened quietly to the teacher.
这篇文章写得不太清楚。This article isn't written very clearly.
她生气地走了。She left in anger.
我们玩儿得很开心。We had a great time.
这是我最喜欢的歌。This is my favourite song.
他紧张地看了看手表。He glanced nervously at his watch.
Worth knowing (1)
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All three in one breath
Because the three sound the same, a listener never hears which one was meant — position does all the work. A single sentence can hold all three without any confusion in speech; only the writer has to decide.
她高兴地说：“我考得很好！”She said happily, “My exam went really well!”
The trap English speakers fall into
Watch out
The three sound identical, so the ear gives no help, and 的 is the one learned first. But the verb before the gap decides it: after a verb, the particle that judges how it went is always 得.
Look at the neighbour: a noun after it, a verb after it, or a verb before it — three jobs, three characters.
Your turn
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