V + 得

The postverbal particle 得 (dak1) attaches directly to an action verb as a standalone modal suffix. It covers four main functions in everyday Cantonese:

• 1. Permission & Feasibility: Indicates an action is allowed by rules or social norms, or that something is physically safe, edible, or potable. For example, 呢度食得嘢 (nei1 dou6 sik6 dak1 je5 - 'Eating is permitted here') or 啲水飲得 (di1 seoi2 jam2 dak1 - 'The water is safe to drink').
• 2. Readiness & Suitability: Indicates that an object or person has reached a condition where it is fit to undergo the action. For example, 條魚蒸好喇，食得喇！ (tiu4 jyu2 zing1 hou2 laa3, sik6 dak1 laa3! - 'The fish is steamed—it is ready to eat now!').
• 3. Physical Tolerance: Indicates natural endurance or capacity, such as 食得辣 (sik6 dak1 laat6 - 'can handle eating spicy food').
• 4. Limitation / Only: Acts as a focus operator meaning 'only' when followed by a number or quantity. For example, 我食得三碗飯 (ngo5 sik6 dak1 saam1 wun2 faan6 - 'I only ate three bowls of rice') or 走得三個人 (zau2 dak1 saam1 go3 jan4 - 'Only three people left').

Structural & Usage Notes:
1. Object Placement: Direct objects follow 得 directly (e.g., 飲得酒 jam2 dak1 zau2). Alternatively, the object is often fronted as a topic: 啲水飲得 (di1 seoi2 jam2 dak1 - 'The water is safe to drink').
2. Negation Rule: To express that an action is prohibited or not fit to be done, place the negation marker 唔 (m4) before the verb (唔 + V + 得). Note that this rule is for the standalone modal suffix. Other structures like Manner Complements (V + 得 + 唔 + Adj) and Potential Complements (V + 唔 + Result) have different negation rules.
3. Question Form: The A-not-A question form is highly irregular compared to Mandarin. For permission or tolerance, it takes the structure V + 唔 + V + 得 (+ Object) (e.g., 食唔食得辣 sik6 m4 sik6 dak1 laat6 - 'Can you handle spicy food?'). However, when asking about Readiness, the standard question form uses 未 (mei6). For example, 'Is it ready to eat?' is 食得未？ (sik6 dak1 mei6?), not 食唔食得。
4. Learned Ability Restriction: 得 cannot be used for learned skills. English speakers often mistakenly use 得 because English uses 'can' for all types of ability. To express 'know how to', you must use 識 (sik1). For example, 'I can speak Cantonese' is 我識講廣東話 (ngo5 sik1 gong2 gwong2 dung1 waa2). The sentence 我講得廣東話 (ngo5 gong2 dak1 gwong2 dung1 waa2) is grammatically valid, but it means 'I am allowed to speak Cantonese' (permission) or 'I am physically able to speak Cantonese' (physical tolerance), not that you have learned the skill.
5. 可以 (ho2 ji5) vs 得: While the pre-verbal 可以 (can/may) and post-verbal 得 are often interchangeable for permission, 得 is more colloquial and uniquely covers the 'readiness' aspect.
6. Distinction from 到 (dou2): Use 得 for rules, fitness, or permission. Use 到 (dou2) when highlighting the physical achievement or completion of an action despite obstacles. However, they can also combine into the potential complement structure V + 得 + 到 (e.g., 做得到 - 'able to achieve/do it').
7. Ambiguity with Quantities: Because 得 can mean both capacity and limitation, a phrase like 食得三個 (sik6 dak1 saam1 go3) can be ambiguous out of context, meaning either 'can eat three' (capacity) or 'only ate three' (limitation).
8. No Aspect Markers: The modal suffix 得 cannot take aspect markers like 咗 (zo2), 緊 (gan2), or 過 (gwo3). You cannot say 食咗得辣. To express past permission or ability, rely on context or use 可以 (ho2 ji5).