Basic Attributive Order in Chinese
定语语序
Mandarin places all attributive material before the head noun. Demonstratives and possessors establish reference, number-classifier phrases state quantity, and descriptions sit closest to the noun in a basic phrase. Not every slot must appear, but material that identifies or describes the noun cannot trail behind the completed noun phrase.
Published July 23, 2026
Reviewed July 23, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
Possessor/Demonstrative + Number + Classifier + Description + Noun
Read the structure
Mandarin places all attributive material before the head noun. Demonstratives and possessors establish reference, number-classifier phrases state quantity, and descriptions sit closest to the noun in a basic phrase. Not every slot must appear, but material that identifies or describes the noun cannot trail behind the completed noun phrase. Keep the model Possessor/Demonstrative + Number + Classifier + Description + Noun visible while you compare each sentence.
我的两本新书在这儿。
My two new books are here.
Choose the right context
Put a possessor before the noun it owns, normally with 的. Keep a number and classifier together before the head noun. Place a descriptive modifier before the noun, using 的 when required.
那三个学生是我的同学。
Those three students are my classmates.
Respect the boundary
Do not place an ordinary attributive adjective after its noun as in English predicative order. Do not separate a number from its classifier with the head noun. Do not put a demonstrative after the quantity phrase it determines.
她买了一个很大书包。
(She bought a very large schoolbag.)
Repair the pattern
Long adjective modifier omits required 的: The multiword description 很大 requires 的 before the head noun 书包. Noun splits number and classifier: The number-classifier unit 两本 must stay together and immediately precede the counted noun 书.
她买了一个很大的书包。
Use the repaired structure without changing the intended meaning.
02 / MAP
Read the Sentence
Read from left to right and notice the job performed by each part. The labels describe this example; they are not a rule that every Chinese sentence must copy.
我的两本新书在这儿。
My two new books are here.
我的
Possessor/Demonstrative
This part occupies the Possessor/Demonstrative position in the model pattern.
两
Number
This part occupies the Number position in the model pattern.
本
Classifier
This part occupies the Classifier position in the model pattern.
新书
Description
This part occupies the Description position in the model pattern.
在
Noun
This part occupies the Noun position in the model pattern.
这儿
Possessor/Demonstrative
This part occupies the Possessor/Demonstrative position in the model pattern.
03 / EXAMPLES
Examples You Can Reuse
Keep the structure stable while changing the people, objects, times, or conditions. Pinyin is shown as reading support; use the Chinese sentence and translation to confirm the grammar relationship.
我的两本新书在这儿。
My two new books are here.
那三个学生是我的同学。
Those three students are my classmates.
她买了一个大书包。
She bought a large schoolbag.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- Put a possessor before the noun it owns, normally with 的.
- Keep a number and classifier together before the head noun.
- Place a descriptive modifier before the noun, using 的 when required.
Do not use it when
- Do not place an ordinary attributive adjective after its noun as in English predicative order.
- Do not separate a number from its classifier with the head noun.
- Do not put a demonstrative after the quantity phrase it determines.
05 / REPAIR
Compare Right and Wrong
Compare the smallest meaningful change. Each explanation identifies a placement, scope, form, or clause relationship instead of treating the whole sentence as one undifferentiated mistake.
她买了一个很大书包。
她买了一个很大的书包。
Long adjective modifier omits required 的
The multiword description 很大 requires 的 before the head noun 书包.
我买了两书本。
我买了两本书。
Noun splits number and classifier
The number-classifier unit 两本 must stay together and immediately precede the counted noun 书.
她买了一个很大书包。
The multiword description 很大 requires 的 before the head noun 书包.
我买了两书本。
The number-classifier unit 两本 must stay together and immediately precede the counted noun 书.
06 / PRACTICE
Practice the Grammar Point
Complete three short tasks in order: judge the pattern, repair a common error, and build the sentence. Feedback is fixed and reviewed, so these activities do not use a checker allowance.
1. Judge the sentence
2. Choose the correction
3. Build the sentence
Build a complete sentence with 定语语序.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 定语语序. Your draft moves to the checker through this browser session, selects this grammar point as the first review focus, and waits for you to submit.
08 / QUESTIONS
Basic Attributive Order Questions
Must every modifier take 的?
No. Demonstrative-classifier phrases and many short conventional descriptions do not.
Which modifier is closest to the noun?
A descriptive attributive usually sits close to the head, after reference and quantity material.
09 / SOURCES
Sources and Review Notes
These references support different parts of the lesson. GF0025-2021 supports level placement only; professional grammar works support the explanation, limits, examples, and cross-checks. Their inclusion does not imply endorsement.
Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education (GF0025-2021)
Ministry of Education and State Language Commission · Ministry of Education of the PRC · 2021
Locator: GF0025-2021 Appendix A, Level 1 item 【一27】 (PDF p. 180)
Provides official Level 1 directory placement and examples only; it does not establish the learner-facing usage explanation.
Official sourceModern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide, 3rd ed.
Ross, Ma, Chen, He and Yeh · Routledge · 2024
Locator: Chapter 9, §9.1, noun-phrase order; §9.3, omission of 的
States that specifiers, number-classifier phrases, and modifiers precede the head noun, with 的 omitted only in licensed modifier types.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
Easy to confuse
的/地Basic 的 and 地 Modifiers
Distinguish the attributive order and connect the responsibilities with 的地的. First decide the modification level and then choose whether to use 的.
Compare
这么/那么/这样/那样Manner Demonstratives 这么 and 那么
Compare the indicated modification positions of general 定语语序 and 这么那么这样那样 to confirm which component is covered by the indicated range.
Continue learning
个Chinese Measure Words
Combine 定语语序 with numeral quantifier nouns, and check the order of multiple layers of modifications such as indicating quantity and nature.
RECOMMENDED NEXT
Continue learning
Combine 定语语序 with numeral quantifier nouns, and check the order of multiple layers of modifications such as indicating quantity and nature.