De-Phrases and Serial-Verb Phrases in Chinese
“的”字短语和连谓短语
A 的-phrase adds 的 to a word or phrase so the whole unit can refer to a person or thing, as in 我买的. A serial-verb phrase places two or more predicates under one subject without a coordinating marker, commonly showing sequence, manner, or purpose. These are distinct structural patterns despite both forming larger constituents.
Published August 3, 2026
Reviewed August 3, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
Word or Phrase + 的 / Same Subject + Predicate 1 + Predicate 2
Read the structure
A 的-phrase adds 的 to a word or phrase so the whole unit can refer to a person or thing, as in 我买的. A serial-verb phrase places two or more predicates under one subject without a coordinating marker, commonly showing sequence, manner, or purpose. These are distinct structural patterns despite both forming larger constituents. Keep the model Word or Phrase + 的 / Same Subject + Predicate 1 + Predicate 2 visible while you compare each sentence.
红色的是我的。
The red one is mine.
Choose the right context
Use a 的-phrase when an understood noun can be recovered from context. Use serial predicates when one subject performs connected actions. Present a destination or manner before the later action it supports.
他去商店买东西。
He goes to the shop to buy things.
Respect the boundary
Do not put 的 before the expression it nominalizes. Do not insert an unrelated subject between serial predicates. Do not reverse a destination and the action performed there.
这是的我买书。
(This is de I buy book.)
Repair the pattern
的 precedes instead of follows its modifier: The modifier 我买 must come before 的, and the head noun 书 follows the complete modifier. The destination splits the later verb and its object: The first predicate 去商店 is complete before the second predicate 买东西 begins.
这是我买的书。
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.
红色的是我的。
The red one is mine.
红色
Word or Phrase
This part occupies the Word or Phrase position in the model pattern.
的是
的 / Same Subject
This part occupies the 的 / Same Subject position in the model pattern.
我的
Predicate 1
This part occupies the Predicate 1 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.
红色的是我的。
The red one is mine.
他去商店买东西。
He goes to the shop to buy things.
她坐飞机去北京。
She travels to Beijing by plane.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- Use a 的-phrase when an understood noun can be recovered from context.
- Use serial predicates when one subject performs connected actions.
- Present a destination or manner before the later action it supports.
Do not use it when
- Do not put 的 before the expression it nominalizes.
- Do not insert an unrelated subject between serial predicates.
- Do not reverse a destination and the action performed there.
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.
这是的我买书。
这是我买的书。
的 precedes instead of follows its modifier
The modifier 我买 must come before 的, and the head noun 书 follows the complete modifier.
他去买商店东西。
他去商店买东西。
The destination splits the later verb and its object
The first predicate 去商店 is complete before the second predicate 买东西 begins.
这是的我买书。
The modifier 我买 must come before 的, and the head noun 书 follows the complete modifier.
他去买商店东西。
The first predicate 去商店 is complete before the second predicate 买东西 begins.
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 “的”字短语和连谓短语.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with “的”字短语和连谓短语. 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
De-Phrases and Serial-Verb Phrases Questions
Does a 的-phrase always show possession?
No. It can refer to a person or thing through ownership, description, or an action, depending on what precedes 的.
Do serial verbs describe simultaneous actions?
Not necessarily. They may show sequence, manner, purpose, or another close relation under one subject.
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: Appendix A, Level 2 item 【二38】, PDF p. 190 (printed p. 184)
Places 的-phrases and serial-verb phrases in the Level 2 inventory with structural examples.
Official source现代汉语语法课程讲义
包头师范学院 · 包头师范学院 · 2024
Locator: 第四节短语, pp. 24 and 28; 连谓短语 and 的字短语
Defines serial-verb phrases as uninterrupted predicate sequences and 的-phrases as referential units formed with 的.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
Easy to confuse
的/得/地的 vs 得 vs 地 (the three de)
A referential 的-phrase uses 的 after its modifier, unlike ordinary particle selection inside a full noun phrase.
Continue learning
连动句：方式与目的Serial Verbs for Manner and Purpose
Continue from general serial predicates to the common subtype whose later action expresses purpose.
Easy to confuse
兼语句Pivotal Sentences
Serial predicates share one subject, while a pivotal middle noun is object then subject.
Compare
故意Intentional Action with 故意
故意 marks intention before one action, whereas serial predicates can express purpose through a later action.
RECOMMENDED NEXT
Continue learning
Continue from general serial predicates to the common subtype whose later action expresses purpose.