Difference between revisions of "Modifying nouns with adjective and "de""
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==Without the noun== | ==Without the noun== | ||
− | In some cases, it is possible to drop the noun altogether, and just use the adjective + 的. For this to work, there already has to be context, so that the listener can understand what it is referring to. This construction | + | In some cases, it is possible to drop the noun altogether, and just use the adjective + 的. For this to work, there already has to be context, so that the listener can understand what it is referring to. This construction can mean "one," as in "the blue one", or as something like "mine" if the word that precedes it is a pronoun. |
==Examples== | ==Examples== |
Revision as of 09:11, 6 June 2013
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One best ways to use the common character 的(de) is to have it spice up your nouns with adjectives.
Contents
Structure
A very common way to modify nouns is to attach an adjective to them using 的 (de).
Adjective + 的 + Noun
This structure comes up extremely frequently and is an easy way to attribute features to nouns. Note that if the adjective has two characters (e.g. 漂亮 or 高兴), the 的 is generally required.
Examples
- 红色 的 气球a red ball
- 漂亮 的 衣服 beautiful clothes
- 好看 的 书a great book
- 好喝 的 啤酒great-tasting beer
Without the noun
In some cases, it is possible to drop the noun altogether, and just use the adjective + 的. For this to work, there already has to be context, so that the listener can understand what it is referring to. This construction can mean "one," as in "the blue one", or as something like "mine" if the word that precedes it is a pronoun.
Examples
Needs examples
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
- Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar (pp. 70-1) →buy
- Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (pp. 37) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 233) →buy