Difference between revisions of "Expressing possession with "de""
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{{Grammar Box}} | {{Grammar Box}} | ||
| − | In Chinese, possession is marked with the particle 的. This particle | + | |
| + | In Chinese, possession is marked with the particle 的 (de). This particle works in a similar way to 's (apostrophe s) in English, but is used much more widely. | ||
== Structure == | == Structure == | ||
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</div> | </div> | ||
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| + | This means "'''Noun 1's Noun 2'''" (where Noun 2 belongs to Noun 1). | ||
The structure is super simple. It will take a bit of time before you realize how truly universal this pattern is. It doesn't matter whether the "Noun 1" is a person, place, or thing, or even if it's a pronoun (like "he," "she," or "it"). The structure stays consistent. | The structure is super simple. It will take a bit of time before you realize how truly universal this pattern is. It doesn't matter whether the "Noun 1" is a person, place, or thing, or even if it's a pronoun (like "he," "she," or "it"). The structure stays consistent. | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | * 我 <em>的</em> 啤酒。 <span class=" | + | * 我 <em>的</em> 啤酒。 <span class="trans">my beer</span> |
| − | * 你 <em>的</em> 葡萄酒。 <span class=" | + | * 你 <em>的</em> 葡萄酒。 <span class="trans">your wine</span> |
| − | * 他 <em>的</em> 书。 <span class=" | + | * 他 <em>的</em> 书。 <span class="trans">his book</span> |
| − | * 他们 <em>的</em> 东西。 <span class=" | + | * 他们 <em>的</em> 东西。 <span class="trans">their stuff</span> |
| − | * 小李 <em>的</em> 手机。 <span class=" | + | * 小李 <em>的</em> 手机。 <span class="trans">Xiao Li's cell phone</span> |
</div> | </div> | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
| + | |||
*[[Expressing close possession]] | *[[Expressing close possession]] | ||
*[[Modifying nouns with adjective + de]] | *[[Modifying nouns with adjective + de]] | ||
Revision as of 03:34, 17 January 2013
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Level
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Similar to
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Used for
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Keywords
In Chinese, possession is marked with the particle 的 (de). This particle works in a similar way to 's (apostrophe s) in English, but is used much more widely.
Structure
Noun 1 + 的 + Noun 2
This means "Noun 1's Noun 2" (where Noun 2 belongs to Noun 1).
The structure is super simple. It will take a bit of time before you realize how truly universal this pattern is. It doesn't matter whether the "Noun 1" is a person, place, or thing, or even if it's a pronoun (like "he," "she," or "it"). The structure stays consistent.
Examples
- 我 的 啤酒。 my beer
- 你 的 葡萄酒。 your wine
- 他 的 书。 his book
- 他们 的 东西。 their stuff
- 小李 的 手机。 Xiao Li's cell phone
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 45) →buy
- New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1) (pp. 87) →buy
- New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)(2nd ed) (pp. 101-2) →buy
- New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2) (pp. 64-5) →buy
