Expressing Degree with '得'

01

Affirmative: Expressing 'Can' with 得 (dak1)

To state that the result of an action is achievable or possible, place 得 (dak1dākdak7) between the verb and its complement. This structure often translates to "can" or "to be able to".

The structure is: Verb + 得 (dak1dākdak7) + Complement

• 我聽得明。

  ngo5 teng1 dak1·ming4.ngóh tēng dāk·mìhng.ngo5 teu1 dak7·ming4.

  I can understand (by listening).

• 啲字好大，我睇得清楚。

  di1 zi6 hou2·daai6, ngo5 tai2 dak1 cing1·co2.dī jih hóu·daaih, ngóh tái dāk chīng·chó.di1 dzi6 hou2·daai6, ngo5 tai2 dak7 tsing1·tso2.

  The words are very big, I can see them clearly.

• 啲餸唔係好多，我食得晒。

  di1 sung3 m4·hai6 hou2·do1, ngo5 sik6·dak1 saai3.dī sung m̀h·haih hóu·dō, ngóh sihk·dāk saai.di1 sung3 m4·hai6 hou2·do1, ngo5 sik9·dak7 saai3.

  There isn't a lot of food, I can finish it all.

02

Negative: Expressing 'Cannot' with 唔 (m4)

To state that the result of an action is not achievable or impossible, place 唔 (m4m̀hm4) between the verb and its complement. This is the direct opposite of using 得 (dak1dākdak7).

The structure is: Verb + 唔 (m4m̀hm4) + Complement

• 佢講得太快，我聽唔明。

  keoi5 gong2 dak1 taai3·faai3, ngo5 teng1 m4·ming4.kéuih góng dāk taai·faai, ngóh tēng m̀h·mìhng.koey5 gong2 dak7 taai3·faai3, ngo5 teu1 m4·ming4.

  He speaks too fast, I can't understand.

• 我冇戴眼鏡，睇唔清楚。

  ngo5 mou5 daai3 ngaan5·geng2, tai2 m4 cing1·co2.ngóh móuh daai ngáahn·géng, tái m̀h chīng·chó.ngo5 mou5 daai3 ngaan5·geu2, tai2 m4 tsing1·tso2.

  I'm not wearing my glasses, I can't see clearly.

• 我今日好忙，做唔完啲功課。

  ngo5 gam1·jat6 hou2·mong4, zou6 m4 jyun4·di1 gung1·fo3.ngóh gām·yaht hóu·mòhng, jouh m̀h yùhn·dī gūng·fo.ngo5 gam1·jat9 hou2·mong4, dzou6 m4 jyn4·di1 gung1·fo3.

  I'm very busy today, I can't finish the homework.

03

Asking Questions

There are two common ways to form a question using this structure.

1. Add a question particle like 呀 (aa3aaa3) or 咩 (me1mēme1) to the end of an affirmative statement.

• 你睇得清楚啲字呀？

  nei5 tai2 dak1 cing1·co2·di1 zi6 aa3?néih tái dāk chīng·chó·dī jih a?nei5 tai2 dak7 tsing1·tso2·di1 dzi6 aa3?

  Can you see the words clearly?

• 你一個人食得晒咩？

  nei5 jat1·go3 jan4 sik6·dak1 saai3 me1?néih yāt·go yàhn sihk·dāk saai mē?nei5 jat7·go3 jan4 sik9·dak7 saai3 me1?

  Can you finish it all by yourself?

2. Use the "A-not-A" form by placing 得 (dak1dākdak7) and 唔 (m4m̀hm4) together. This creates a choice question, similar to "can or cannot?".

The structure is: Verb + 得 (dak1dākdak7) + 唔 (m4m̀hm4) + Complement?

• 你聽得唔明我講咩？

  nei5 teng1 dak1 m4 ming4 ngo5 gong2 me1?néih tēng dāk m̀h mìhng ngóh góng mē?nei5 teu1 dak7 m4 ming4 ngo5 gong2 me1?

  Can you understand what I'm saying or not?

• 張枱咁重，你搬得唔郁？

  zoeng1·toi2·gam3 zung6, nei5 bun1·dak1 m4·juk1?jēung·tói·gam juhng, néih būn·dāk m̀h·yūk?dzoeng1·toi2·gam3 dzung6, nei5 bun1·dak7 m4·juk7?

  The table is so heavy, can you move it? (Lit: can or cannot move?)

04

Using This Structure with Objects

When an object is present in the sentence, it cannot be placed after the verb-complement phrase. Instead, the verb must be repeated.

The structure is: Subject + Verb + Object + Verb + 得 (dak1dākdak7)/唔 (m4m̀hm4) + Complement

This repetition might seem unusual, but it is the standard way to form these sentences. The first verb introduces the action and the object, and the second instance of the verb forms the potential complement phrase.

• 我睇呢本書睇得明。

  ngo5 tai2 ni1 bun2·syu1 tai2 dak1·ming4.ngóh tái nī bún·syū tái dāk·mìhng.ngo5 tai2 ni1 bun2·sy1 tai2 dak7·ming4.

  I can understand this book (by reading it).

• 佢食三碗飯都食唔飽。

  keoi5 sik6 saam1 wun2 faan6 dou1 sik6 m4 baau2.kéuih sihk sāam wún faahn dōu sihk m̀h báau.koey5 sik9 saam1 wun2 faan6 dou1 sik9 m4 baau2.

  He eats three bowls of rice and still can't get full.

• 你做功課做得完嗎？

  nei5 zou6 gung1·fo3 zou6 dak1·jyun4 maa1?néih jouh gūng·fo jouh dāk·yùhn mā?nei5 dzou6 gung1·fo3 dzou6 dak7·jyn4 maa1?

  Can you finish doing the homework?