定语 and 状语 for Describing Nouns and Verbs
Describers always come first in Chinese: a 定语 goes before a noun (我的书, 三本书), and a 状语 goes before a verb or adjective (今天在家学习, 都很好).
Pattern
定语 + (的) + noun; subject + 状语 (time / place / adverb) + verb
A 定语 describes a noun and comes before it; a 状语 describes a verb or adjective and comes before it. Time and place go before the verb, not at the end.
我今天在家学习。
When to use 定语 and 状语 for Describing Nouns and Verbs
A 定语 (attributive) is a describer placed before a noun; a 状语 (adverbial) is a describer placed before a verb or adjective. At HSK 1, a 定语 can be a noun or pronoun (中国朋友, 我的书), an adjective phrase (好朋友, 很好的老师) or a number with a measure word (三本书, 这个人). A 状语 can be an adverb (很, 都, 也, 不), an adjective (多吃, 快来), or a time or place word (今天, 在家). The rule for both is the same: the describer comes first, the word it describes comes last.
他是我的中国朋友。
He is my Chinese friend.
我买了三本书。
I bought three books.
她是一个很好的老师。
She is a very good teacher.
这是妈妈的手机。
This is Mom’s phone.
Common traps
- Describers go first: 我的书, not 书我的; 在家学习, not 学习在家.
- Use 的 after 很 + adjective: 很好的老师, not 很好老师.
- A number + measure word needs no 的: 三本书, not 三本的书.
Targeted drill
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