<blockquote>
  <p>I can't use 地 after the adjective if the adjective is monosyllabic</p>
</blockquote>

<p>This is not a grammatical rule. This is an idiomatic rule and mostly for prosody concerns. </p>

<p>All the following expressions are grammatically correct. Only some sounds more natural than the others:</p>

<ul>
<li>他慢地走 &lt;- sounds unnatural</li>
<li>他很慢地走 &lt;- sounds fine but not idiomatic</li>
<li>他慢慢地走 &lt;- sounds fine and idiomatic</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-06-01T18:07:53.913Z
2015-06-01T18:07:53.913Z
NS.X.
<p>Darlin' who is teaching you this stuff? I hope you are not paying too much!</p>

<p>You can say: 她很慢地走。or 她慢慢地走。</p>

<p>Better might be: 她在很慢地走。 or 她走得很慢。</p>

<p>Goodnight, Miss Chestnut!</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-06-02T12:47:45.730Z
Sorry 'bout that, missed a 慢, was a bit drunk last night!
Pedroski
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-06-01T13:00:09.410Z
2015-06-02T12:48:18.950Z
2015-06-02T12:48:18.950Z
Pedroski
<p>I can't use 地 after the adjective if the adjective is monosyllabic (so 他慢地走 isn't acceptable). Then why in this sentence is there 地 after a monosyllabic adjective?</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>他很慢地走</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Is it because I can use 地 if there is 很 before the adjective ?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-06-01T14:18:57.110Z
the whole 状语，很慢 no longer is a monosyllabic adjective，in which case the following applies：实用现代汉语语法，５１２页：描写性的状语绝大多数后边可以用＂地＂１。形容词和形容词短语：加丽亚得意地说：＂我成功了！＂２。她大方地伸出手来同我握手。３。黄英激动地说：＂我太佩服你了！＂４。小红不高兴的走了。５。这时他很客气地提出三点要求。６。全会场都在静静地等待着。７。她一只手拿着筷子，两眼直瞪瞪地瞅着火苗。但单音节形容词后一般不用＂地＂。如＂他看着我傻笑＂。
user6065
<grammar><usage><particles>
他很慢地走: why there is 地 if the adjective is monosyllabic?
# 他很慢地走: why there is 地 if the adjective is monosyllabic?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-06-01)

I can't use 地 after the adjective if the adjective is monosyllabic (so 他慢地走 isn't acceptable). Then why in this sentence is there 地 after a monosyllabic adjective?

> 他很慢地走

Is it because I can use 地 if there is 很 before the adjective ?

**Tags:** grammar, usage, particles

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: the whole 状语，很慢 no longer is a monosyllabic adjective，in which case the following applies：实用现代汉语语法，５１２页：描写性的状语绝大多数后边可以用＂地＂１。形容词和形容词短语：加丽亚得意地说：＂我成功了！＂２。她大方地伸出手来同我握手。３。黄英激动地说：＂我太佩服你了！＂４。小红不高兴的走了。５。这时他很客气地提出三点要求。６。全会场都在静静地等待着。７。她一只手拿着筷子，两眼直瞪瞪地瞅着火苗。但单音节形容词后一般不用＂地＂。如＂他看着我傻笑＂。  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2015-06-01. Score: 5

> I can't use 地 after the adjective if the adjective is monosyllabic

This is not a grammatical rule. This is an idiomatic rule and mostly for prosody concerns.

All the following expressions are grammatically correct. Only some sounds more natural than the others:

* 他慢地走 <- sounds unnatural
* 他很慢地走 <- sounds fine but not idiomatic
* 他慢慢地走 <- sounds fine and idiomatic


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### Answer by username_3 on 2015-06-01. Score: -2

Darlin' who is teaching you this stuff? I hope you are not paying too much!

You can say: 她很慢地走。or 她慢慢地走。

Better might be: 她在很慢地走。 or 她走得很慢。

Goodnight, Miss Chestnut!

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: Sorry 'bout that, missed a 慢, was a bit drunk last night!  

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