<p>Just share a source on zdic.net. As an auxiliary word, 得 generally has three functions. And in the question, it is <strong>case 3</strong>.</p>

<h3><a href="http://www.zdic.net/z/19/xs/5F97.htm" rel="nofollow">得 as an auxiliary word</a></h3>

<blockquote>
  <p>得 de</p>
  
  <ol>
  <li><p>用在动词后面，表示能够或可以。如：我们可粗心不得。她能去我为什么去不得。</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p><strong>After a verb, means "be able to", "can".</strong></p>
    
    <p>"我们可粗心不得" == "我们可 不得(能) 粗心" <strong><em>We can't (shouldn't) be careless.</em></strong></p>
    
    <p>"她能去，我为什么去不得" == "她能去，我为什么不能去" <strong><em>She can go, why can't I?</em></strong></p>
  </blockquote></li>
  <li><p>用在动词和补语中间，表示可能。如：我拿得动。那办得到。</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p><strong>Between a verb and a complement, means "possible to do", "can".</strong></p>
    
    <p>"我拿得动" <strong><em>I can bring it.</em></strong></p>
    
    <p>"那办得到" <strong><em>That can be done.</em></strong></p>
  </blockquote></li>
  <li><p>用在动词或形容词后面，连接表示程度或结果的补语。如：我冷得打哆嗦。我笑得肚子痛。</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p><b>After a verb or an adjective, links a complement indicating "degree/extent" or "result".</b></p>
    
    <p>"我冷得打哆嗦" (Literally) <strong><em>I feel cold so that I am trembling.</em></strong></p>
    
    <p>"我笑得肚子痛" <strong><em>I'm laughing myself to stomachache.</em></strong> (= die laughing)</p>
  </blockquote></li>
  </ol>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-29T04:00:53.993Z
Thanks, I like the 冷 example in case 3! I'm getting off-topic from my original question, but ... is the first case typically in the negative format 不得? Both examples are negative, wondering if it would get used like that in a positive sense (like .. 我为什么去得?) or does that just turn into the děi pronunciation and positioning e.g. `我得去上班` (or following the original question, 我为什么得去?)
Ming
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-29T04:24:46.630Z
1. Yes, you can use it in a positive sense like "A says: B能去，我为什么去不得。 B replies: 我为什么去得, 是因为我有这个资格！" 2. `děi` isn't labeled as "助词" but "动词" in Chinese, so it doesn't belong to case 1/2/3 above. It functions like the **auxiliary verb** must/need in English.
Stan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-29T04:38:03.977Z
Note the different meaning of your examples. `我得去上班` I **have to** go to work. `我为什么得去?` Why do I **have to** go there?
Stan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-29T03:26:48.853Z
2014-04-29T03:26:48.853Z
Stan
<p>Put it in simple way, 得 works as a adverb, or some call it particle word that doesn't have a meaning by itself in Chinese. A adverb (or particle word) is to modify verbs, adjectives or other adverbs.</p>

<p>So the possible usages of 得 should be </p>

<p>verb + 得 + complement.
adj + 得 + complement.
adv + 得 + complement.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-30T16:59:42.880Z
2014-04-30T16:59:42.880Z
ChineseHulu.com
<p>My understanding of 的-地-得 is the same as what's here: <a href="https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/89/%E7%9A%84-%E5%9C%B0-%E5%BE%97-when-do-you-use-which">的-地-得, when do you use which?</a> -- which is summarised as: “地” usually appears before the verb while “得” appears after the verb.</p>

<p>However, I found a sentence which I found very curious in its structure, it doesn't follow these rules. I couldn't find an explanation as to why. The sentence is as follows:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>不是运动得太少，是事儿太多，<strong>多得做不完</strong>，哪有时间运动？</p>
</blockquote>

<p>In <code>多得做不完</code>, “得” doesn't follow a verb. Is this an uncommon usage, or is this simply incorrect usage?</p>

<p>Can anybody shed some light on this? </p>

<grammar><sentence-structure><particles>
Why is 得 in 多得做不完?
# Why is 得 in 多得做不完?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-04-29)

My understanding of 的-地-得 is the same as what's here: [的-地-得, when do you use which?](https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/89/%E7%9A%84-%E5%9C%B0-%E5%BE%97-when-do-you-use-which) -- which is summarised as: “地” usually appears before the verb while “得” appears after the verb.

However, I found a sentence which I found very curious in its structure, it doesn't follow these rules. I couldn't find an explanation as to why. The sentence is as follows:

> 不是运动得太少，是事儿太多，**多得做不完**，哪有时间运动？

In `多得做不完`, “得” doesn't follow a verb. Is this an uncommon usage, or is this simply incorrect usage?

Can anybody shed some light on this?

**Tags:** grammar, sentence-structure, particles


---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2014-04-29. Score: 4

Just share a source on zdic.net. As an auxiliary word, 得 generally has three functions. And in the question, it is **case 3**.

### [得 as an auxiliary word](http://www.zdic.net/z/19/xs/5F97.htm)

> 得 de
>
> 1. 用在动词后面，表示能够或可以。如：我们可粗心不得。她能去我为什么去不得。
>
>    > **After a verb, means "be able to", "can".**
>    >
>    > "我们可粗心不得" == "我们可 不得(能) 粗心" ***We can't (shouldn't) be careless.***
>    >
>    > "她能去，我为什么去不得" == "她能去，我为什么不能去" ***She can go, why can't I?***
> 2. 用在动词和补语中间，表示可能。如：我拿得动。那办得到。
>
>    > **Between a verb and a complement, means "possible to do", "can".**
>    >
>    > "我拿得动" ***I can bring it.***
>    >
>    > "那办得到" ***That can be done.***
> 3. 用在动词或形容词后面，连接表示程度或结果的补语。如：我冷得打哆嗦。我笑得肚子痛。
>
>    > **After a verb or an adjective, links a complement indicating "degree/extent" or "result".**
>    >
>    > "我冷得打哆嗦" (Literally) ***I feel cold so that I am trembling.***
>    >
>    > "我笑得肚子痛" ***I'm laughing myself to stomachache.*** (= die laughing)

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks, I like the 冷 example in case 3! I'm getting off-topic from my original question, but ... is the first case typically in the negative format 不得? Both examples are negative, wondering if it would get used like that in a positive sense (like .. 我为什么去得?) or does that just turn into the děi pronunciation and positioning e.g. `我得去上班` (or following the original question, 我为什么得去?)  
> **username_1**: 1. Yes, you can use it in a positive sense like "A says: B能去，我为什么去不得。 B replies: 我为什么去得, 是因为我有这个资格！" 2. `děi` isn't labeled as "助词" but "动词" in Chinese, so it doesn't belong to case 1/2/3 above. It functions like the **auxiliary verb** must/need in English.  
> **username_1**: Note the different meaning of your examples. `我得去上班` I **have to** go to work. `我为什么得去?` Why do I **have to** go there?  

---

### Answer by username_2 on 2014-04-30. Score: 1

Put it in simple way, 得 works as a adverb, or some call it particle word that doesn't have a meaning by itself in Chinese. A adverb (or particle word) is to modify verbs, adjectives or other adverbs.

So the possible usages of 得 should be

verb + 得 + complement.
adj + 得 + complement.
adv + 得 + complement.


---

