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Mandarin 的 vs 得 — The “de” Particles

Eleventh graders master two of Mandarin’s trickiest particles — both pronounced “de.” 的 links a describer to a noun (我的书 = my book), while 得 links a verb to how it’s done (跑得快 = runs fast). They sort phrases by which “de” fits.

Grade 11的 vs 得55 minutes1 class periodACTFL / CommunicativeExplicit teaching4 StandardsACTFL
Start the Lesson
Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Tell 的 from 得.
  • ✓Know each use.
  • ✓Sort phrases.
  • ✓Write clearly.
Essential Question

Three particles all sound like “de”! 的 goes before a noun; 得 goes after a verb. Which “de” belongs where?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Sort It · Interactive

的 (noun) or 得 (verb)?

Project this and sort each phrase into 的 (before a noun) or 得 (after a verb, showing how).

✒️ Sort each — 的 or 得?Try it
的 (before a noun)
得 (after a verb)
Tap a phrase, then tap a box.
The Lesson · Communicative Flow (Warm-Up · Present · Practice · Speak · Reflect)

55 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Warm-Up — Three “de” Sounds

6 min

的 goes before a noun; 得 after a verb — which “de” belongs where?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Say two “de” phrases.
  • Ask if they’re the same word.
  • Set the goal.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Listen.
  • Wonder.
  • Get ready.
2

Present — 的 vs 得

13 min

Students learn.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Present 的 (noun) and 得 (verb).
  • Note the roles.
  • Show examples.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Listen.
  • Note it.
  • Look.
3

Practice — Sort Them

15 min

Students practice.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to 的 or 得?
  • Sort each one.
  • Say them aloud.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Sort.
  • Say.
  • Explain.
4

Speak — Speak

15 min

Students speak.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Make a 的 phrase.
  • Make a 得 phrase.
  • Ask a partner.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Say it.
  • Say it.
  • Ask.
5

Reflect — Reflect

6 min

Students close.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Say when to use 的.
  • Say when to use 得.
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Say it.
  • Say it.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the ACTFL World-Readiness Standards for Learning Languages (Intermediate-High).

ACTFL
Comparisons 4.1

Compare particle systems.

ACTFL
Communication 1.2

Interpretive: read particles.

ACTFL
Connections 3.1

Connect to grammar.

ACTFL
Communication 1.1

Interpersonal: use particles.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • 的/得 example cards.
  • Sentence frame: “___ 的/得 ___.”
  • Color-code the two.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with 我的 and 跑得快.
  • Sort one at a time.
  • Repeat aloud.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Add the adverb 地.
  • Write four phrases.
  • Explain each choice.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Screen / board
  • ✒️Particle cards
  • 💻的 or 得?
  • 🗣️Audio
  • ✏️Notebooks
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

的 (de)possessive/adjective particle得 (de)degree/result particle地 (de)adverb particle名词 (míngcí)noun动词 (dòngcí)verb形容 (xíngróng)to describe快 (kuài)fast清楚 (qīngchu)clear
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
Which “de” goes before a noun, as in “my book”?
的 — 我的书.
QUESTION 2
Which “de” goes after a verb, as in “runs fast”?
得 — 跑得快.
QUESTION 3
In “说得好” (speaks well), which “de” is used?
得 — it follows the verb and shows how.

Reflect: 的 vs 得.

Have students make one 的 phrase (my ___) and one 得 phrase (verbs ___ ly). A printable “de” sheet is in the World Languages library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 Mandarin 的 vs 得 (De Particles)Flip
Card 1
Term
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Meaning
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Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Mandarin 的 vs 得 (De Particles)Quiz
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Question 1
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Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Mandarin 的 vs 得 (De Particles)Print
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: 动词 (dòngcí), 名词 (míngcí), 地 (de), 形容 (xíngróng), 得 (de), 快 (kuài), 清楚 (qīngchu), 的 (de)
  1. clear
  2. adverb particle
  3. verb
  4. fast
  5. degree/result particle
  6. to describe
  7. possessive/adjective particle
  8. noun

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. Which “de” goes before a noun, as in “my book”?
  2. Which “de” goes after a verb, as in “runs fast”?
  3. In “说得好” (speaks well), which “de” is used?
Answer key — Part A: 1) 清楚 (qīngchu) · 2) 地 (de) · 3) 动词 (dòngcí) · 4) 快 (kuài) · 5) 得 (de) · 6) 形容 (xíngróng) · 7) 的 (de) · 8) 名词 (míngcí)
Part B: 1) 的 — 我的书. 2) 得 — 跑得快. 3) 得 — it follows the verb and shows how.