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Structural particle 的: links a modifier to a noun ('s, of, that…)

HSK 1HSK 3.0 · 1

Attributive (noun/pronoun/adjective/verb phrase) + 的 + Noun

In Chinese the modifier always comes BEFORE the noun: 'my book' → 我的书, 'the person I met yesterday' → 我昨天见的人. 的 is often dropped for close relationships or groups (我妈妈, 我们学校) and after one-syllable adjectives (好人, 新衣服). 的 can also stand for a noun already understood: 这本书是我的. Typical errors are putting the modifier after the noun or confusing 的 with 地/得.

Foundational; HSK 3–4 sentence-ordering tasks often test where the 的-phrase goes.

Examples

  • 这是我的手机。

    This is my phone.

  • 他是我的中国朋友。

    He is my Chinese friend.

  • 那本书是老师的。

    That book is the teacher's.

  • 我喜欢红色的衣服。

    I like red clothes.

  • 你昨天买的苹果很好吃。

    The apples you bought yesterday are delicious.

Exercises

  1. 1.这是 书。

  2. 2.Choose the correct way to say “his friend”:

  3. 3.这个杯子是谁 ？

  4. 4.Choose the correct way to say “the person I met yesterday”:

More grammar points