V+得（可能）

The post-verbal potential particle 得 (dak1) is placed directly after a verb stem to indicate that an action is permitted, safe, or ready to be performed.

1. Core Functions & Nuances

• Permission / Rules: Indicates external permission is granted or a rule permits the action (e.g., 去得 heoi3 dak1 = 'allowed to go').
• State Readiness: Indicates conditions are met so the action can take place (e.g., 食得飯 sik6 dak1 faan6 = 'ready to eat dinner'). This is frequently paired with 喇 (laa3) to show a change of state (e.g., 去得喇 heoi3 dak1 laa3 = 'good to go now!').
• Object Safety / Fitness: When combined with a topicalized object, it shows an item is fit or safe for the action (e.g., 呢啲嘢食得 nei1 di1 je5 sik6 dak1 = 'this food is safe/edible to eat').
• High Capacity / Tolerance: It can also express high capacity or tolerance for an action when modified by degree words or specific objects (e.g., 好食得 hou2 sik6 dak1 = 'has a big appetite / can eat a lot'; 食得辣 sik6 dak1 laat6 = 'can handle spicy food').

2. Negation & Compound Verbs

• Basic Negation: 唔 (m4) + Verb + 得 (e.g., 唔食得 m4 sik6 dak1 = 'not allowed to eat / inedible'). Note that 唔 goes before a simple verb stem.
• Not Ready Yet: To express that an action is not ready to be performed yet, use 未 (mei6) + Verb + 得 (e.g., 未去得 mei6 heoi3 dak1 = 'not ready to go yet').
• Object Placement: Standard objects always follow 得 in affirmative, negative, and question forms (e.g., 食得牛肉 sik6 dak1 ngau4 juk6 = 'can eat beef'; 唔食得牛肉 m4 sik6 dak1 ngau4 juk6 = 'cannot eat beef'), unless the object is topicalized at the beginning of the sentence.
• Compound / Resultative Verbs: For compound verbs with resultative or directional particles (like 食得晒 sik6 dak1 saai3 = 'can finish eating all of it'), the affirmative potential marker 得 is dropped and replaced by 唔 between the verb and the particle rather than putting 唔 before the verb stem (e.g., 食唔晒 sik6 m4 saai3 = 'cannot finish eating it all').
• vs. 冇得 + V: 唔 + Verb + 得 means forbidden, not allowed, or unfit (e.g., 唔食得 = not allowed to eat / inedible), whereas 冇得 + V means lacking the opportunity or option to do something (e.g., 冇得食 = no chance/opportunity to eat).

3. Question Formation

• A-not-A Pattern: Ask whether something can be done using Verb + 唔 + Verb + 得 (e.g., 食唔食得 sik6 m4 sik6 dak1 = 'Is it edible / allowed to eat?') or Verb + 得唔得 (e.g., 食得唔得 sik6 dak1 m4 dak1).
• Compound Verb Questions: For compound verbs, use Verb + 唔 + Verb + 得 + Complement (e.g., 食唔食得晒 sik6 m4 sik6 dak1 saai3) or Verb + 得 + Complement + Verb + 唔 + Complement (e.g., 食得晒食唔晒 sik6 dak1 saai3 sik6 m4 saai3).
• Readiness Questions: Ask if an action is ready to be performed yet using the formula V + 得 + 未？ (e.g., 去得未呀？ heoi3 dak1 mei6 aa3? = 'Ready to go yet?').

4. Key Distinctions in Cantonese

• vs. 識 (sik1): 識 is used for learned skills or abilities (e.g., 我識游水 ngo5 sik1 jau4 seoi2 = 'I know how to swim'). V + 得 focuses on permission, capacity, or readiness, not whether you have learned how to do it.
• vs. V + 到 (dou2): V + 到 expresses physical capability or successful outcome despite obstacles (e.g., 去到 = managed to get there). V + 得 focuses on permission, readiness, or suitability (e.g., 去得 = allowed/ready to go).
• vs. 可以 (ho2 ji5): 可以 is a pre-verbal auxiliary verb. While 可以去 and 去得 both mean 'can go', V + 得 is also very colloquial, though 可以 is just as common in everyday speech.
• vs. V + 得 + Adj: When followed by an adjective (e.g., 跑得快 paau2 dak1 faai3), 得 acts as a manner complement marker. Standalone V + 得 takes no adjective and asserts permission/possibility.
• Note on Cantonese vs. Mandarin: In Cantonese, 得 (dak1) is used for potential and manner (食得). Do not confuse it with extent or result, which requires 到 (dou3) in Cantonese (e.g., 攰到瞓着 gui6 dou3 fan3 zoek6 = so tired that I fell asleep).