V+得

Short Potential

Level 2Sounds Like dak1

Attach 得 (dak1) directly after a verb stem to show that an action is permitted, feasible/edible, or ready to be carried out.

How It Works

In Cantonese, the short potential structure Verb + 得 (dak1) functions as a post-verbal modal suffix expressing post-verbal potential or permission.

Key Meanings:

  • Permission / Authorization: Allowed to perform the action (e.g., 走得 zau2 dak1 'allowed to leave').
  • Intrinsic Quality / Feasibility: Suitable, safe, or fit to perform the action on (e.g., 呢啲食得 ni1 di1 sik6 dak1 'This is edible / fit to eat').
  • Readiness: Good to go or ready to proceed (e.g., 我哋走得喇 ngo5 dei6 zau2 dak1 laa3 'We are ready to leave').

Sentence Structure & Word Order:
• Basic Pattern: Verb + 得 (e.g., 做得 zou6 dak1 'doable / can be done').
• With Objects: You can use Verb + 得 + Object (e.g., 食得花生 sik6 dak1 faa1 sang1) or front the object as a topic: Object + Verb + 得 (e.g., 呢啲花生食得 ni1 di1 faa1 sang1 sik6 dak1).
• With Result Particles: When combined with completion markers like 晒 (saai3), 得 sits between the verb and the complement: V + 得 + Complement (e.g., 食得晒 sik6 dak1 saai3 'able to eat all of it').

Negation & Questions:
• To negate short potential, put 唔 (m4) before the verb: 唔 + V + 得 (e.g., 唔食得 m4 sik6 dak1 - 'not allowed / not fit to eat').
• For potential resultative complements (V + 得 + Complement), negation replaces 得 with 唔: V + 唔 + Complement (e.g., 食唔晒 sik6 m4 saai3 'cannot eat it all').
• For questions, use A-not-A forms like V + 唔 + V + 得 (e.g., 食唔食得？ sik6 m4 sik6 dak1?) or V + 得 + 唔 + 得 (e.g., 食得唔得？ sik6 dak1 m4 dak1? 'Is it edible? / Can we eat it?').

Grammar Constraints:
• Aspect markers like 咗 (zo2) or 緊 (gan2) cannot co-occur on the verb in this construction.

Important Distinction:
Do not confuse V + 得 (permission / suitability) with V + 到 (physical capability or successful attainment), or 冇得 + V (lack of opportunity or access).

Examples (4)

  1. 呢啲嘢食得㗎。

    This food is safe to eat.

    Word by Word: this plural thing eat can PARTICLE

    食得 (sik6 dak1) shows intrinsic suitability (edible / fit to eat).

  2. 我哋而家走得喇。

    We can leave now / We are ready to go now.

    Word by Word: we now leave can PARTICLE

    走得 (zau2 dak1) expresses readiness or permission to depart.

  3. 你仲病緊，唔食得辣嘢。

    You are still sick, you shouldn't eat spicy food.

    Word by Word: you still sick PROGRESSIVE, not eat can spicy thing

    唔食得 (m4 sik6 dak1) is the negative form, meaning not allowed or not suitable to eat.

  4. 呢部電腦仲用得。

    This computer is still usable.

    Word by Word: this CL computer still use can

    用得 (jung6 dak1) indicates functional feasibility (usable / operational).

Common Mistakes

  • Thinking 食唔得 is wrong.

    Different Meaning呢啲嘢食唔得。
    呢啲嘢唔食得。

    Both are natural. 呢啲嘢食唔得 says the food cannot be eaten (for example it has gone bad). 唔食得 says it is not allowed or not a good idea to eat it.

  • Confusing 唔睇得 (prohibition) with 睇唔到 (physical inability).

    Different Meaning呢套戲太恐怖，小朋友睇唔到。
    呢套戲太恐怖，小朋友唔睇得。

    睇唔到 (tai2 m4 dou2) means physically unable to see it. 唔睇得 (m4 tai2 dak1) means not allowed or not suitable to watch.

  • Using V + 得 when you mean a learned skill.

    Different Meaning我講得廣東話。
    我識講廣東話。

    我講得廣東話 is a fine sentence: it says you are able to speak Cantonese. 識講 (sik1 gong2) is the usual way to say you have learned it. V + 得 mainly expresses permission, readiness, or what is possible.

How It Connects

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V+得Level 2Short Potential

Learn This First

To understand 'V+得', you first need to know the basic meaning of '得' as 'can' or 'allowed'. It is also helpful to understand how Cantonese uses verbal particles to modify the meaning of a verb, and how '得' functions in its standalone negative form '唔得'.

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