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]
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* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (p. 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]
* [[Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition]] (pp. 31) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415372615/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0415372615 →buy]
+
* [[Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition]] (p. 31) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415372615/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0415372615 →buy]
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)]] (pp. 87) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561910401/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561910401 →buy]
+
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)]] (p. 87) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561910401/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561910401 →buy]
  
  

Revision as of 08:17, 14 March 2014

Sometimes you don't need 的 (de) to indicate certain especially close relationships.

Structure

pronoun + Noun

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, close friends, boyfriends/girlfriends)
  • An institutional or organizational relationship (school, work)

In these cases 的 should be omitted (that is, it doesn't sound as natural if you leave it in).

Examples

  • 这 是 我 家This is my home.
  • 这 是 我 女朋友This is my girlfriend.
  • 她 妈妈 很 漂亮。Her mom is very beautiful.
  • 我们 学校 很 大。Our school is big.
  • 我们 公司 在 西安。Our company is in Xi'an.
  • 他 爸爸我们 公司 的 老板。His dad is the boss of our company.
  • 你 姐姐 很 难看 。Your older sister is ugly.
  • 我 家 很大 。My house is very big.
  • 他们 儿子 很 有名。Their son is really famous.
  • 我 女儿 会 说 英语。My daughter can speak English.

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

See also

Sources and further reading

Books