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HSK 2.0 Level 1+ HSK 3.0 Level 1+ 7 min read

联合, 偏正, 动宾, 主谓 for the Four Basic Phrase Types

See how Chinese builds phrases by joining equal words, adding a describer, adding an object, or pairing a subject with a predicate.

Pattern

A和B (联合); describer + word (偏正); verb + object (动宾); subject + predicate (主谓)

Every phrase type has a fixed order: describers before the word they describe, objects after the verb.

我喜欢看书。

When to use 联合, 偏正, 动宾, 主谓 for the Four Basic Phrase Types

联合短语 (coordinate phrase): two or more equal words side by side. Nouns are often joined by 和: 爸爸妈妈, 老师和学生. Verbs and adjectives can pair up too, usually without 和: 唱歌跳舞, 便宜好吃. 偏正短语 (modifier-head phrase): a describing word comes first, then the main word: 新书, 我的朋友, 很好.

爸爸和妈妈都在家。

Dad and Mom are both at home. (联合: Dad and Mom)

这是我的新书。

This is my new book. (偏正: my new book)

我知道他明天来。

I know he’s coming tomorrow. (主谓: 他明天来)

他汉语很好。

His Chinese is very good. (主谓 phrase 汉语很好 as the predicate)

Common traps

  • In a 偏正 phrase the describer always comes first: 我的朋友, never 朋友我的.
  • In a 动宾 phrase the object follows the verb: 看书, not 书看.
  • 新衣服 names a thing, while 衣服很新 makes a statement; don’t swap them.

Targeted drill

Practice this exact pattern before moving on.

今天 。

The weather is nice today
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