Difference between revisions of "Expressing close possession without "de""

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=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
  
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 76) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385 →buy]
+
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 76) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385 →buy]
  
 
[[Category:A1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:A1 grammar points]]

Revision as of 08:55, 30 January 2012

Normally possession is expressed with the particle 的. However, in some cases you can omit 的. This happens when the possession is about:

  • A close personal relationship (family and close friends)
  • An institutional or organizational relationship

In these cases 的 should be omitted (that is, it's not just optional - it'll sound odd if you put it in).

Some examples:

  • 我 妈妈。
  • 我 女朋友。
  • 我们 学校。
  • 他 爸爸。

If 的 was used in the above examples, it would create a sense of distance between the two, and imply that the relationship is not particularly close.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books