的 / 地 / 得【de / de / de】

的, 地 and 得 sound the same, and in writing the choice depends on what comes next. Before a noun, 的. Before a verb, 地. After a verb or adjective, followed by how it went, 得.

的: before a noun

Whatever describes a noun – an adjective, an owner, a clause – takes 的 and comes in front of the noun.

地: before a verb

地 turns a description into the manner of an action. It sits between the description and the verb, and the verb comes after it.

得: after the verb

得 follows the verb or adjective and introduces a comment on it – a complement, a phrase after the verb that says how well, how much or with what result. The verb comes before it.

Same word, three places

One description can take all three, depending on what it attaches to.

Mixing them up

The commonest slip is 的 after a verb where 得 belongs. Check the side the verb is on: verb first means 得, verb after means 地.

• × 他跑的很快 → 他跑得很快
• × 他高兴得说 → 他高兴地说
• × 认真地学生 → 认真的学生

You'll see 的 used for 地 in casual writing online. In your own writing, keep them apart.