Everything you need to use degree complements (得) correctly: the patterns, when to use them, examples with audio, common mistakes and exercises with answers.
The degree complement with 得 says how well an action is done: speaking fast or slowly, writing neatly, sleeping well... Key patterns: Subject + verb + 得 + adjective; Subject + verb + 得 + 不 + adjective.
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Basic pattern | S + V + 得 + Adj Subject + verb + 得 + adjective | 他说得很快。 He speaks very fast. 得 here is a structural particle, not the verb 得到 |
| Negative degree complement | S + V + 得 + 不 + Adj Subject + verb + 得 + 不 + adjective | 我听得不太清楚。 I cannot hear it very clearly. |
Used to judge how well or badly an action is done.
When you cannot hear or see clearly, 得不太... is the usual choice.
Pick the right option, then open the answer to check it.
Options: 了 · 地 · 得 · 的
得. The degree complement uses 得: 说得很快.
Options: 她唱很得好听。 · 她唱得很好听。 · 她很唱得好听。 · 她得唱很好听。
她唱得很好听。. V + 得 + adjective is the standard order.
Options: 不太 · 已经 · 没 · 没有
不太. Negation after 得 uses 不 (不太 = not very): He speaks too fast, I cannot hear him very clearly.
Options: 弟弟很跑得快。 · 弟弟得跑很快。 · 弟弟跑很得快。 · 弟弟跑得很快。
弟弟跑得很快。. Standard pattern: 跑得很快.
Options: 你写得越来越好了。 · 你写越来越好得了。 · 你写越来越得好了。 · 你得写越来越好了。
你写得越来越好了。. 得 is what carries the degree of the action.
Options: 了 · 地 · 得 · 的
得. V + 得 + adjective rates how an action is done: She speaks Chinese very well.
Options: 了 · 地 · 得 · 的
得. Negative degree complement: V + 得 + 不 + adjective: He does not run fast.
Options: 了 · 地 · 得 · 的
得. With an object, repeat the verb: V + O + V + 得 + adjective: Your handwriting is really nice.
Options: 他做得饭很好吃。 · 他做饭做很好吃得。 · 他做饭做得很好吃。 · 他做饭得很好吃。
他做饭做得很好吃。. With an object, the verb must be repeated before 得: He cooks very well.
Options: 了 · 很 · 是 · 没
很. After 得 comes a degree adverb + adjective: He goes to bed very late.
Options: 了 · 地 · 得 · 的
得. To ask for a change in degree: V + 得 + adjective + 一点儿: You speak too fast, please speak a bit more slowly.
Options: 了 · 地 · 得 · 的
得. To ask how well something is done: V + 得 + 怎么样: How well does he swim?
Options: 她不唱得好听。 · 她唱不得好听。 · 她唱得不好听。 · 她没唱得好听。
她唱得不好听。. 不 goes after 得 and before the adjective: She does not sing well.
Options: 了 · 地 · 得 · 的
得. V + 得 + 很 + adjective describes the outcome: We had a great time.
Options: 了 · 地 · 得 · 的
得. V + 得 + 怎么样 asks how an action went: How did you do in this exam?
Options: 不 · 别 · 很 · 没
不. The second clause "I cannot understand" calls for 说得不好; negation after 得 uses 不: He does not speak Chinese well; I cannot understand him.
Options: 你写汉字得很漂亮。 · 你汉字写很漂亮得。 · 你汉字写得很漂亮。 · 你汉字得写很漂亮。
你汉字写得很漂亮。. The object can be moved before the verb: (S) + O + V + 得 + adjective: You write Chinese characters beautifully.
Options: 了 · 地 · 得 · 的
得. V + 得 + 很 + adjective: He walks very slowly.
Options: 地 · 得 · 的 · 着
得. Rating how one slept: 睡得不好: I did not sleep well last night.
Options: 了 · 地 · 得 · 的
得. V + 得 + 非常 + adjective: He answered this question very clearly.
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