的、地、得: three different de particles

Original Chinese study material with English explanations. Simplified Chinese with pinyin; beginner, intermediate and advanced are editorial difficulty labels.

的 links a modifier to a noun. 地 links a manner expression to a following verb. 得 follows a verb or adjective and introduces a degree or manner complement.

这是我的新书。

Zhè shì wǒ de xīn shū.

This is my new book.

她认真地写，写得很清楚。

Tā rènzhēn de xiě, xiě de hěn qīngchu.

She writes carefully, and her writing is clear.

All three are often neutral-tone de, but their written forms and positions differ. 地 is often omitted in short everyday manner expressions.

Try it

Complete “He speaks very clearly”: 他说___很清楚。

1. 的
2. 地
3. 得

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