Difference between revisions of "Expressing possession with "de""

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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* 我 <em>的</em> 啤酒 <span class="trans">my beer</span>
+
* 我 <em>的</em> 老师 <span class="trans">my teacher</span>
* 你 <em>的</em> 葡萄酒 <span class="trans">your wine</span>
+
* 你 <em>的</em> 啤酒 <span class="trans">your beer</span>
 
* 他 <em>的</em> 书 <span class="trans">his book</span>
 
* 他 <em>的</em> 书 <span class="trans">his book</span>
 
* 他们 <em>的</em> 东西 <span class="trans">their stuff</span>
 
* 他们 <em>的</em> 东西 <span class="trans">their stuff</span>
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[[Category:A1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:A1 grammar points]]
{{Basic Grammar|的|A1|N1 + 的 + N2|我的 <em>老师</em>|grammar point|ASGUHQD2}}
+
{{Basic Grammar|的|A1|Noun1 + 的 + Noun2|我的 <em>老师</em>|grammar point|ASGUHQD2}}
 
{{Similar|Expressing close possession}}  
 
{{Similar|Expressing close possession}}  
 
{{Similar|Modifying nouns with adjective + de}}  
 
{{Similar|Modifying nouns with adjective + de}}  

Revision as of 08:20, 8 January 2014

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

  • 老师 my teacher
  • 啤酒 your beer
  • his book
  • 他们 东西 their stuff
  • 小李 手机 Xiao Li's cell phone
  • 我们 our tea
  • 我 家 小狗my family's puppy
  • 公司 老板the company's boss
  • 上海 美女Shanghai's beautiful women
  • 美女 朋友the beautiful woman's friend

See also

Sources and further reading