得 for Degree/Manner in Chinese

Overview

The particle 得 (de) placed after a verb introduces a complement describing the degree or manner of an action: 说得很好 (speak very well), 跑得快 (run fast). This structure answers "how well?" or "to what degree?" and is one of the most common ways to evaluate or describe how someone does something.

At the CEFR A2 level, the 得 complement is essential for expressing opinions about performance and ability. It allows you to say how well someone speaks, how fast they run, or how beautifully they sing. The pattern is fixed: Verb + 得 + description.

When the verb has an object, the object must be moved: either repeat the verb (他中文说得很好) or front the object (中文他说得很好). You cannot place 得 between a verb and its object.

How It Works

Basic pattern: Verb + 得 + Description

Structure	Example	Meaning
V + 得 + Adj	跑得快	run fast
V + 得 + 很 + Adj	说得很好	speak very well
V + 得 + 不 + Adj	写得不好	write not well
V + 得 + 怎么样？	做得怎么样？	How did it turn out?

When the verb has an object

Pattern	Example	Meaning
Obj + V + 得 + Desc	中文说得很好	speaks Chinese well
S + Obj + V + 得 + Desc	他中文说得很好	He speaks Chinese well
S + V + Obj + V + 得 + Desc	他说中文说得很好	He speaks Chinese very well

Key rule: You cannot say 说中文得很好 -- the object cannot sit between the verb and 得.

Examples in Context

Chinese	Pinyin	English	Note
他说得很好。	Tā shuō de hěn hǎo.	He speaks very well.	basic pattern
你跑得太慢了。	Nǐ pǎo de tài màn le.	You run too slowly.	negative evaluation
他中文说得不好。	Tā Zhōngwén shuō de bù hǎo.	He doesn't speak Chinese well.	object fronted
她唱得怎么样？	Tā chàng de zěnmeyàng?	How does she sing?	question
你做得对。	Nǐ zuò de duì.	You did it right.	result evaluation
他吃得很多。	Tā chī de hěn duō.	He eats a lot.	quantity
她跳得很漂亮。	Tā tiào de hěn piàoliang.	She dances beautifully.	manner
我睡得不好。	Wǒ shuì de bù hǎo.	I didn't sleep well.	quality
他来得很早。	Tā lái de hěn zǎo.	He came very early.	time quality
你写得真好看。	Nǐ xiě de zhēn hǎokàn.	Your writing looks really nice.	compliment

Common Mistakes

Placing the object between verb and 得

• Wrong: 他说中文得很好。
• Right: 他中文说得很好。or 他说中文说得很好。
• Why: The object must be moved before the verb or the verb must be repeated. Nothing can intervene between the verb and 得.

Confusing 得 with 的 and 地

• Wrong: 说的很好 (wrong particle)
• Right: 说得很好 (correct: 得 after verb for degree/manner)
• Why: 的 modifies nouns, 地 modifies verbs (before), 得 describes verbs (after). They sound the same but have distinct functions.

Forgetting 得 in evaluative statements

• Wrong: 他说很好。(He says very good.)
• Right: 他说得很好。(He speaks very well.)
• Why: To describe HOW someone does something, 得 is required after the verb.

Practice Tips

• Evaluate daily activities using 得: 今天吃得很好, 昨天睡得不好, 这个做得对. This builds the pattern into automatic speech.
• Practice the object-movement rule by choosing verbs with objects and creating 得 sentences: 写字写得好看, 说中文说得流利.
• Ask and answer 得怎么样 questions: 你今天过得怎么样？(How was your day?) is a very natural conversation starter.

Related Concepts

• Prerequisite: Common Verbs -- know action verbs before evaluating them
• Next steps: Adjective Complements -- more complex 得 patterns for expressing intensity