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的 / 得 / 地 (the three “de”)
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Three characters, one sound
- A friend texts you about a classmate who runs fast, but writes the wrong "de" and the sentence looks odd.
- he他to run跑(degree marker)得very很rapid快。 — "He runs fast." (that)的, (degree marker)得 and (adverb -ly)地 are all read de, but each has its own job.
(that)的 before a noun
- (that)的 links a description or owner to a noun: my我(that)的book书, pretty漂亮(that)的clothes衣服, yesterday昨天bought买(that)的thing东西.
- Test: is the next word a noun (or is the noun left out)? Then it is (that)的.
this这is是my我yesterday昨天bought买(that)的book书。
(adverb -ly)地 before a verb, (degree marker)得 after a verb
- (adverb -ly)地 links a manner to the verb that follows: conscientious认真(adverb -ly)地to learn学习, slowly慢慢(adverb -ly)地to walk走.
- (degree marker)得 follows a verb and introduces how well or how much: to run跑(degree marker)得very很rapid快, speaks说(degree marker)得very很well好, rope累(degree marker)得unexpectedly不想(of sth) to move动.
she她speaks说得very很fluently流利。
Complete: “She sings very well.” 她唱____很好。
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After a verb, 得 introduces how well.
Match each phrase to its particle.
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Noun → 的; following verb → 地; after a verb → 得.
The quick test
- Look at what follows: a noun → (that)的; a verb → (adverb -ly)地; and after a verb, a description of the result → (degree marker)得.
- Typing tip: in to run跑(degree marker)得very很rapid快 the verb to run跑 is before the particle, so it must be (degree marker)得, not (that)的.
Fill the gaps: 我__朋友慢慢__走过来。
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我的朋友 (before a noun) and 慢慢地走 (before a verb).
One sentence, two particles
- he他happily高兴(adverb -ly)地speaks说，he他test考(degree marker)得very很well好。 — "He said happily that he had done well in the exam."
- my我to like喜欢variant of 吃吃mama妈妈to make做(that)的vegetable菜。 — "I love the food my mum makes." Here the (that)的 phrase describes vegetable菜.
he他happily高兴地said说，he他test考得very很well好。
In 妈妈做的菜, 的 is correct because 菜 is a noun.
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The 的 phrase describes the noun 菜.
Recap
- (that)的 + noun (my我(that)的book书), (adverb -ly)地 + verb (conscientious认真地学), verb + (degree marker)得 + result (to run跑(degree marker)得very很rapid快).
- All are read de; choose by what comes before and after.
Read the full reference: HSK 3 grammar — Particles.
A friend texts you about a classmate who runs fast, but writes the wrong "de" and the sentence looks odd. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.
This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.