Level 2 Lesson 19.1 – These Are (Ones That) Everyone Ordered Together

GRAMMAR

Grammar 1: The "De" Phrase in Chinese - 的 Phrase 的字短语 (1) · HSK 2

The "De" Phrase in Chinese - 的 Phrase 的字短语 is mostly used as an Attributive, 定语 dìngyǔ.

An Attributive in Chinese, usually goes before a Noun (Phrase). An Attributive can limit, identify, describe, particularize, or supplement the meaning of the Noun (Phrase). And 的 is like the link that helps put together the Noun (Phrase) and its Attributive. A "De" Phrase in Chinese usually goes like this in Chinese:

[ X + 的 ] + Noun (Phrase)

In a 的 phrase, the part that goes before 的 ("X") , can have a few grammatical structures:

1. a Noun (Phrase)
2. an Adjective (Phrase)
3. a Verb (Phrase)
4. a short sentence

(1) "X" as a Noun Phrase

[noun (phrase) + 的 ] + Noun (Phrase)

For example,

• zhè dào cài de jiàgé
  这道菜的价格
  this "dao" (of) dish's price
• dājiā de dǎsuàn
  大家的打算
  everyone's plan

(2) "X" as an Adjective Phrase

[adj. (phrase) + 的 ] + Noun (Phrase)

• kuàilè de háizi
  快乐的孩子
  happy children
• rè de kāfēi
  热的咖啡
  hot coffee

(3) "X" as a Verb Phrase

[Verb (phrase) + 的 ] + Noun (Phrase)

• sòng wàimài de fúwùyuán
  送外卖的服务员
  server (who) delivers delivery food
• gěi nǐ zhǔnbèi de lǐwù
  给你准备的礼物
  gift prepared for you

(4) "X" as a short sentence

[short sentence + 的 ] + Noun (Phrase)

For example,

• tóngshì sòng wǒ de shū
  同事送我的书
  (a) book (that) (my) coworker gave me
  
• jīnglǐ gàosu tā de jiàgé
  经理告诉他的价格
  (the) price (that) (the) manager told him

Grammar 2: The "De" Phrase in Chinese - 的 Phrase 的字短语 (2) · HSK 2

A 的 phrase can also be used as if it were a Noun Phrase.  This is because when the real Noun Phrase is implied by the context, and is omitted, the 的 Phrase then function as the Noun Phrase with the Attributive.

The structure is like so:

[X + 的 ] + Noun (Phrase)

Again the "X" here can either be a Noun Phrase, an Adjective Phrase, a Verb Phrase, or a short sentence.

For example,

• zhè dào cài shì nà jiā fàn guǎn de
  这道菜是那家饭馆的。
  This dish is that "jia" restaurant's.
• yīfu wǒ xǐhuan piányi de, bù xǐhuan guì de
  衣服我喜欢便宜的，不喜欢贵的。
  Clothing(,) I like cheap (ones), (I do) not like expensive (ones).
• sòng wàimài de shì shéi
  送外卖的是谁？
  Who is (the one that) delivers delivery food?
  
• nǐ gěi tā de shì zhège ma
  你给他的是这个吗？
  Is this one (the one that) you gave him?

Grammar 3: While / When in Chinese ...的时候 · HSK 2

We've learned how to ask when in Chinese with 什么时候. If we want to say a clause with while / when in Chinese, we can use this structure:

... 的时候

For example,

• zài fànguǎn kàn càidān de shíhou diǎn cài
  在饭馆看菜单的时候点菜。
  Order dishes while looking at menu at the restaurant.
• bù xiǎng zuòfàn de shíhou, wǒmen kěyǐ jiào wàimài
  不想做饭的时候，我们可以叫外卖。
  When (you) don't want to cook meal, we can order delivery/takeout food.
• xiě zuòyè de shíhou bú yào chī dōngxi
  写作业的时候不要吃东西。
  Don't eat stuff while writing homework.