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

m (Text replace - "Expressing Possession" to "Expressing possession")
Line 39: Line 39:
 
{{Similar|Modifying nouns with adjective + de}}  
 
{{Similar|Modifying nouns with adjective + de}}  
 
{{Similar|Modifying nouns with phrase + de}}
 
{{Similar|Modifying nouns with phrase + de}}
 +
{{Similar|Modifying nouns with adjective + de}}   
 
{{POS|Particles}}
 
{{POS|Particles}}

Revision as of 08:31, 5 September 2012

Structure

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).

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