I am trying to understand and remember the differences in the three different meanings of the word "de". Is there a phrase or easy way?
Here are the basics...
[noun] 的 [noun] is for possession. The first noun owns the second noun.
我的中文 = My Chinese
Matt的书 = Matt's shoe
[adjective] 的 [noun] is for modifying a noun. The adjective describe the noun (when it's only one syllable and for some two-syllable words, the 的 isn't used).
漂亮的女孩 = beautiful girl
好朋友 = good friend (the 的 isn't used)
[verb] 得 [adjective] is to describe how the verb is done. We often use add '-ly' to adjectives to make them adverbs.
说得快 = to speak fast/quickly
听得不清楚 = to not hear clearly
[adjective] 地 [verb] is with the order switched round.
漫漫地走 = to walk slowly
Also, be aware that a lot of people use 的 for all three meanings. And to add confusion 得 is used in such phrases as 听得懂, which is saying the verb is possible with whatever outcome is added to it (in this case, "I can understand what I hear").
Accourding to your question, I googled and found a way to remember
1.的:Before noun, Sth + 的 = adj. ---->開心的微笑
2.地:Before verb, Sth + 地 = adv. ---->開心地笑
3.得:after verb, 得 + Sth = adv. ---->笑得開心
and I think 2. & 3. can transfer into one another
(Examples are traditional chinese, I hope you can understand them. )
http://blog.huayuworld.org/oushaolin45/20585/2010/10/06/74785
Matt's book.*
Why does it not matter how many times you proofread something, you always find a mistakes as soon as you can't change it? :D
To be fair 书 is pronounced quite like "shoe".
When de is possesive pronouns it is like 's in English
When de is adverb it is like ly in English