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

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=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
  
* [[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]
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{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)|76}}
* [[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]
+
{{Source|Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition|31}}
* [[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]
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{{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)|87}}
  
 
[[Category:A1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:A1 grammar points]]

Revision as of 09:49, 10 October 2017

Expressing possession in Chinese is accomplished with the particle (de). But sometimes when certain (especially close) relationships are involved, it's more natural to drop the 的 (de).

Structure

Pronoun + Noun

Normally possession is expressed using the particle 的 (de). However, you can omit 的 (de) in these cases:

  • A close personal relationship is involved (family, close friends, boyfriends or girlfriends)
  • An institutional or organizational relationship is involved (school, work)

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

Examples

  • 我 家 很 大。Wǒ jiā hěn dà.My house is very big.
  • 你 哥哥 很 高 。 Nǐ gēge hěn gāo.Your big brother is very tall.
  • 这 是 我 女朋友Zhè shì wǒ nǚpéngyou.This is my girlfriend.
  • 她 妈妈 很 漂亮。Tā māma hěn piàoliang.Her mom is very pretty.
  • 我们 学校 很 大 。Wǒmen xuéxiào hěn dà.Our school is big.
  • 他们 公司 在 北京。Tāmen gōngsī zài Běijīng.Their company is in Bejing.
  • 你 男朋友 很 帅。Nǐ nánpéngyou hěn shuài.Your boyfriend is very handsome.
  • 他 儿子 很 有名。Tā érzi hěn yǒumíng.His son is really famous.
  • 我 女儿 会 说 英语。Wǒ nǚ'ér huì shuō Yīngyǔ.My daughter can speak English.
  • 他 爸爸我们 公司 的 老板。Tā bàba shì wǒmen gōngsī de lǎobǎn.His dad is the boss of our company.

If 的 (de) was used in the above examples, it would create an unnatural sense of distance between the two.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books