<p>買 = buy</p>
<p>買[<strong>得</strong>] = [<strong>can</strong>] buy (allowed to buy)</p>
<p>[<strong>唔</strong>]買[<strong>得</strong>] = [<strong>can't</strong>] buy (not allowed to buy)</p>
<p>[<strong>冇得</strong>]買 = [<strong>not available</strong>] to buy</p>
<ul>
<li><em>冇買得 is ungrammatical</em></li>
</ul>
<p>食 = eat</p>
<p>食[<strong>得</strong>] = [<strong>can</strong>] eat (allowed to eat)</p>
<p>[<strong>唔</strong>]食[<strong>得</strong>] = [<strong>can't</strong>] eat (not allowed to eat)</p>
<p>[<strong>冇得</strong>]食 = [<strong>not available</strong>] to eat</p>
<p>For &quot;don't&quot; it is &quot;唔好&quot;</p>
<p>Example:</p>
<p><strong>唔好</strong>買貴嘢 = <strong>don't</strong> buy expensive stuff</p>
<p><strong>唔好</strong>食太多鹽 = <strong>don't</strong> eat too much salt</p>
<p>Notice:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>[唔好][食] = [don't][eat]</p>
</li>
<li><p>[唔][好食] = [not] [tasting good]</p>
</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-03-23T05:01:17.127Z
2022-04-02T10:39:18.447Z
2022-04-02T10:39:18.447Z
Tang Ho
<p>I am confused about how to construct (and understand) phrases that involve: 得 and its negative 唔得 with a verb.</p>
<p>Specifically, what is the difference between 唔得買，冇買得。</p>
<p>A corresponding confusion would be how to say the following in cantonese: wasn’t able to buy, don’t buy. Are there other patterns i should know?</p>
<p>Please suggest a definitive rule for this.
Thanks</p>

<cantonese><verbs><negation>
Confusion over 得，唔得 + verb
# Confusion over 得，唔得 + verb

(Asked by: username_0 on 2022-03-23)

I am confused about how to construct (and understand) phrases that involve: 得 and its negative 唔得 with a verb.

Specifically, what is the difference between 唔得買，冇買得。

A corresponding confusion would be how to say the following in cantonese: wasn’t able to buy, don’t buy. Are there other patterns i should know?

Please suggest a definitive rule for this.
Thanks

**Tags:** cantonese, verbs, negation

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2022-03-23. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

買 = buy

買[**得**] = [**can**] buy (allowed to buy)

[**唔**]買[**得**] = [**can't**] buy (not allowed to buy)

[**冇得**]買 = [**not available**] to buy

* *冇買得 is ungrammatical*

食 = eat

食[**得**] = [**can**] eat (allowed to eat)

[**唔**]食[**得**] = [**can't**] eat (not allowed to eat)

[**冇得**]食 = [**not available**] to eat

For "don't" it is "唔好"

Example:

**唔好**買貴嘢 = **don't** buy expensive stuff

**唔好**食太多鹽 = **don't** eat too much salt

Notice:

* [唔好][食] = [don't][eat]
* [唔][好食] = [not] [tasting good]


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