{{Grammar Box}} [[Expressing possession with "de"|Expressing possession]] in Chinese is accomplished with the particle [[的]] (de). But sometimes when certain (especially close) relationships are involved, it's more natural to drop the 的 (de). == Structure ==
Pronoun + Noun
Normally [[Expressing possession with "de"|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 是 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== *[[Expressing possession with "de"]] *[[Modifying nouns with adjective + "de"]] *[[Modifying nouns with phrase + "de"]] == Sources and further reading == === 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] * [[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)]] (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] [[Category:A1 grammar points]] {{Used for|Expressing possession}} {{Basic Grammar|的|A1|Pronoun + Noun|我 女朋友|grammar point|ASGCI0KG}} {{Similar|Expressing possession with "de"}} {{Similar|Modifying nouns with adjective + "de"}} {{Similar|Modifying nouns with phrase + "de"}} {{POS|Particles}} {{Translation|My}} {{Translation|His}} {{Translation|Her}} {{Translation|Their}} {{Translation|Our}}