Verified answer

的:

- used to qualify/describe nouns

- for example:

你有很漂亮的衣服

You have very beautiful clothes.

得:

- used to qualify/describe verbs or a state (resulting from an action)

- describes an action/state as it is seen, not necessarily as it is intended

- for example:

他跑得很快.

He ran very fast.

(Describing an action the way it was seen by someone else)

她走得腳都軟了

She walked until her legs were very weak

(Describing a consequential state)

地:

- used to qualify/describe verbs

- describes an action the way it is intended by the doer of the action

- for example:

他很快地跑着.

He ran very fast (on purpose).

I can understand that your frustration comes from something these three are related: steady verb.

的 is a modifier, FOR NOUNS ONLY.

Ex1: 我 (wǒ: I) + 的 (de: 's) + 衣服 (yī fu: cloth) = my cloth

Ex2: 美麗 (měi lì) + 的 (de) + 衣服 (yī fu: cloth) = beautiful cloth

In Ex2, 美麗 is a steady verb, and 的 transforms the steady verb to be an adjective.

得 and 地 are modifiers, FOR STEADY VERBS ONLY. They are like -ly in English. In English, -ly transforms adjectives to adverbs (Ex: "slow" + "-ly" becomes "slowly") while in Chinese, 得 and 地 transform steady verbs to adverbs. They seem confusing, but here is the rule:

* If the sentence goes "motion verb + modifier + steady verb," use 得 as the modifier.

Ex: 我 (wǒ: I) + 跑 (pǎo: to run) + 得 (de) + 慢 (màn) = I run slowly.

* If the sentence goes "steady verb + modifier + motion verb," use 地.

Ex: 我 (wǒ: I) + 慢慢 (màn màn) + 地 (de) + 跑 = I slowly run.

Hope this helps.

的 can be used like 's

得 can be used when you show that you put effort into something

地 can also be used to mean earth as in 土地

I will show you the uses by examples

的 de4 (possessive) 's in English

这双脚是我的。 zhe4 shuang1 jiao3 shi4 wo3 de4. This foots are mine.

你的功课做了吗？ ni3 de4 gong1 ke4 zuo4 le4 ma? Have you completed your homework

他的/她的/它的 ta1 de4 His/Hers/Its...

That's all

得 de2 (explain extent of a verb)

我的脚痛得很利害。 wo3 de4 jiao3 tong4 de2 hen3 li4 hai4. My legs hurts terribly.

你的功课做得很快。 ni3 de4 gong1 ke4 zuo4 de2 hen3 kuai4. You did your homework efficiently and fast.

吃得很快。 chi1 de4 hen3 kuai4. Eat very fast.

睡得很早。 shui4 de4 hen3 zao3. Sleep very early

地 di4/de4 (most of the time it is placed behind an adjective)

Read as di4 when it means floor. But mostly de4 (same reading as 的) when means the following.

我安静地坐下。 wo3 an1 jing4 de4 zuo4 xia4. I sat down quietly.

我好心地帮你。 wo3 hao3 xin1 de4 bang1 ni3. I helped you kindheartedly

悄悄地离开。 qiao1 qiao1 de4 li2 kai1. Leave quietly

用力地打。 yong4 li4 de4 da3. Beat with force.

Combining these 3 particles, you can form sentences like:

你的问题问得很好。我仔细地回答。ni3 de4 wen4 ti2 wen4 de2 hen3 hao3. wo3 zi3 xi4 de4 hui2 da2. Your question is a good question. I answered in detail.

希望我的答案会使得你了解。请细心地读一遍。 xi1 wan4 wo3 de4 da2 an4 hui4 shi3 ni3 liao2 jie3. qin3 zi3 xi4 de4 du2 yi4 bian4. I hope my answers can make you understand. Please read it once carefully.

Hope these help =D