HSK 1 grammar · new HSK syllabus
的: possession and describing nouns
的 links a describer to a noun, like “’s”: 我的书, 漂亮的衣服.
Structure
- Noun / pronoun + 的 + noun
- Description + 的 + noun
How it works
的 goes between a describer and the noun it describes: 我的手机 my phone, 老师的书 the teacher’s book, 新的电脑 a new computer.
With close relationships and family, 的 is usually dropped: 我妈妈, 我们学校, 他朋友.
One-syllable adjectives often drop 的 too: 好人, 大学. Longer descriptions keep it: 很漂亮的衣服.
Examples
-
这是我的手机。
Zhè shì wǒ de shǒujī.
This is my phone.
-
那是老师的书。
Nà shì lǎoshī de shū.
That is the teacher’s book.
-
我妈妈是医生。
Wǒ māma shì yīshēng.
My mum is a doctor.
-
他买了一个新的电脑。
Tā mǎi le yí gè xīn de diànnǎo.
He bought a new computer.
-
我喜欢很热的天气。
Wǒ xǐhuan hěn rè de tiānqì.
I like very hot weather.
Words in these examples (21)
| 这 | zhè | this | HSK 1 |
| 是 | shì | to be (am, is, are); yes | HSK 1 |
| 我 | wǒ | I; me | HSK 1 |
| 的 | de | (particle linking a describer to a noun, like "'s") | HSK 1 |
| 手机 | shǒujī | mobile phone | HSK 1 |
| 那 | nà | that; then | HSK 1 |
| 老师 | lǎoshī | teacher | HSK 1 |
| 书 | shū | book | HSK 1 |
| 妈妈 | māma | mum; mother | HSK 1 |
| 医生 | yīshēng | doctor | HSK 1 |
| 他 | tā | he; him | HSK 1 |
| 买 | mǎi | to buy | HSK 1 |
| 了 | le | (particle marking a completed action or a change) | HSK 1 |
| 一 | yī | one | HSK 1 |
| 个 | gè | (general measure word) | HSK 1 |
| 新 | xīn | new | HSK 1 |
| 电脑 | diànnǎo | computer | HSK 1 |
| 喜欢 | xǐhuan | to like | HSK 1 |
| 很 | hěn | very | HSK 1 |
| 热 | rè | hot | HSK 1 |
| 天气 | tiānqì | weather | HSK 1 |
Common mistakes
-
✗我手机的
✓我的手机
The describer comes first, then 的, then the noun.
-
✗很漂亮衣服
✓很漂亮的衣服
A description with 很 needs 的.
Check yourself
Choose the word that fills the gap.
1. 这是谁 书？
2. 他是我 朋友。
3. 我想买一个很大 桌子。