HSK2 Grammar: Verbal Attributive with "的(de)"
In the previous lesson, we have already learned three usages of 'de' (的). Let's review them first:
🔁 Quick Review — Three Uses of 的:
- ① Possession: Pronoun/Noun + 的 + Noun — 我的书 (wǒ de shū) my book
- ② Adjective/noun modifier: Adjective + 的 + Noun — 漂亮的猫 (piàoliang de māo) beautiful cat
- ③ Noun Omission: 这本书是我的。 (Zhè běn shū shì wǒ de.) This book is mine
Now we add a fourth, very important pattern: using a verb phrase as an attributive modifier with 的. This lets you describe a noun using an action or a specific context — for example, "the apple I bought yesterday" or "the person who is teaching Chinese."
(动词性定语 + 的 + 中心语) The verb phrase describes or identifies the noun that follows 的
Key points:
- The verb phrase can be simple: 买的苹果 (mǎi de píngguǒ) — the apple (that was) bought.
- The verb phrase often includes a time word, object, or place: 昨天买的苹果 (zuótiān mǎi de píngguǒ) — the apple bought yesterday.
- The subject of the verb inside the phrase can be omitted if it is clear from context.
- The whole verb phrase + 的 acts like an adjective — it comes before the noun it describes.
Usage Scenarios:
- Simple verb + 的 + noun — describing a noun by a single action 喝的水 (hē de shuǐ) — the water (to) drink / drinking water
- Time + verb + 的 + noun — specifying when something happened 昨天买的苹果 (zuótiān mǎi de píngguǒ) — the apple(s) bought yesterday
- Subject + verb + 的 + noun — specifying who did the action 妈妈做的饭 (māma zuò de fàn) — the food (that) mom made
- Verb + object + 的 + noun — adding more detail to the action 教汉语的老师 (jiāo Hànyǔ de lǎoshī) — the teacher who teaches Chinese
Exercise 1: Sentence Ordering
Click the words to form correct sentences.
Exercise 2: English to Chinese Translation
Translate the following sentences into Chinese (use characters).
Exercise 3: Listening Practice
Listen to the audio. Questions 1–4: Write in Chinese. Questions 5–8: Translate to English.
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
的 | de | structural particle (possessive / modifying / attributive) |
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
买 | mǎi | to buy |
做 | zuò | to make / to do |
教 | jiāo | to teach |
穿 | chuān | to wear |
喝 | hē | to drink |
学 | xué | to study / to learn |
来 | lái | to come |
到 | dào | to arrive / to reach |
看书 | kàn shū | to read (books) |
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
苹果 | píngguǒ | apple |
饭 | fàn | food / meal / cooked rice |
衣服 | yīfu | clothes |
茶 | chá | tea |
汉语 | Hànyǔ | Chinese (language) |
老师 | lǎoshī | teacher |
名字 | míngzi | name |
朋友 | péngyou | friend |
学生 | xuésheng | student |
图书馆 | túshūguǎn | library |
北京 | Běijīng | Beijing |
妈妈 | māma | mom / mother |
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
便宜 | piányí | cheap / inexpensive |
好吃 | hǎochī | delicious / tasty |
漂亮 | piàoliang | beautiful / pretty |
多 | duō | many / much |
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
昨天 | zuótiān | yesterday |
去年 | qùnián | last year |
今天 | jīntiān | today |
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
从 | cóng | from |
在 | zài | at / in |
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid:
❌ Wrong: 苹果昨天买的很便宜。(Píngguǒ zuótiān mǎi de hěn piányí.) — Wrong word order: the entire verb phrase + 的 must come BEFORE the noun
✅ Correct: 昨天买的苹果很便宜。(Zuótiān mǎi de píngguǒ hěn piányí.) — Verb phrase + 的 + noun (head noun)
❌ Wrong: 妈妈的做饭很好吃。(Māma de zuò fàn hěn hǎochī.) — Don't use 的 twice; 妈妈 is part of the verb phrase here, not a separate possessive
✅ Correct: 妈妈做的饭很好吃。(Māma zuò de fàn hěn hǎochī.) — Subject + verb + 的 + noun
❌ Wrong: 教的汉语老师叫什么？(Jiāo de Hànyǔ lǎoshī jiào shénme?) — The verb phrase modifier must stay together
✅ Correct: 教汉语的老师叫什么名字？(Jiāo Hànyǔ de lǎoshī jiào shénme míngzi?) — Verb + object + 的 + head noun
🎉 Great job on completing this lesson!
Practice these sentences daily to master the verbal attributive with "的 (de)"
加油！(jiā yóu - Keep going!)