Formal Nominal Uses of 该, 另, and 兹 in Chinese
该/另/兹
Formal nominal 该 identifies a relevant entity, 另 introduces another entity, and 兹 points to a present documentary referent. This page covers only the GF examples 该企业, 另一回事, and 兹日, where each form precedes a nominal head. Separate adverbial uses of 另, including 另附 and 另行, are valid but outside this page.
Published July 23, 2026
Reviewed July 23, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
该/另/兹 + Noun (formal nominal use)
Read the structure
Formal nominal 该 identifies a relevant entity, 另 introduces another entity, and 兹 points to a present documentary referent. This page covers only the GF examples 该企业, 另一回事, and 兹日, where each form precedes a nominal head. Separate adverbial uses of 另, including 另附 and 另行, are valid but outside this page. Keep the model 该/另/兹 + Noun (formal nominal use) visible while you compare each sentence.
该企业已完成整改。
The company has completed the required corrections.
Choose the right context
Use 该 before the noun naming an already identified formal referent. Use 另 or 另一 before the noun naming a distinct alternative. Use 兹 before a documentary noun such as 日 in established formal wording.
那完全是另一回事。
That is an entirely different matter.
Respect the boundary
Do not put 该, 另, or 兹 after its nominal head. Do not insert aspect marking inside a 该/另/兹 noun phrase. Do not use this nominal card to judge separate adverbial 另 forms such as 另附 or 另行; they are outside its scope.
该了企业已完成整改。
(The company has completed the required corrections.)
Repair the pattern
Aspect marker splits determiner and noun: 该 directly determines 企业; aspect 了 cannot occur inside the noun phrase. Aspect marker splits the 另一 noun phrase: 另一回事 is one nominal constituent; aspect 了 cannot split 另一 from its head 回事.
该企业已完成整改。
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.
该企业已完成整改。
The company has completed the required corrections.
该
该/另/兹
This part occupies the 该/另/兹 position in the model pattern.
企业
Noun (formal nominal use)
This part occupies the Noun (formal nominal use) position in the model pattern.
已
该/另/兹
This part occupies the 该/另/兹 position in the model pattern.
完成
Noun (formal nominal use)
This part occupies the Noun (formal nominal use) position in the model pattern.
整
该/另/兹
This part occupies the 该/另/兹 position in the model pattern.
改
Noun (formal nominal use)
This part occupies the Noun (formal nominal use) 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.
该企业已完成整改。
The company has completed the required corrections.
那完全是另一回事。
That is an entirely different matter.
本协议于兹日签署。
This agreement is signed on this date.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- Use 该 before the noun naming an already identified formal referent.
- Use 另 or 另一 before the noun naming a distinct alternative.
- Use 兹 before a documentary noun such as 日 in established formal wording.
Do not use it when
- Do not put 该, 另, or 兹 after its nominal head.
- Do not insert aspect marking inside a 该/另/兹 noun phrase.
- Do not use this nominal card to judge separate adverbial 另 forms such as 另附 or 另行; they are outside its scope.
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.
该了企业已完成整改。
该企业已完成整改。
Aspect marker splits determiner and noun
该 directly determines 企业; aspect 了 cannot occur inside the noun phrase.
那完全是另一了回事。
那完全是另一回事。
Aspect marker splits the 另一 noun phrase
另一回事 is one nominal constituent; aspect 了 cannot split 另一 from its head 回事.
该了企业已完成整改。
该 directly determines 企业; aspect 了 cannot occur inside the noun phrase.
那完全是另一了回事。
另一回事 is one nominal constituent; aspect 了 cannot split 另一 from its head 回事.
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 该/另/兹.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 该/另/兹. 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
Formal Nominal Uses of 该, 另, and 兹 Questions
Does 该 mean should here?
No. Before a noun in formal prose, 该 means the relevant or aforementioned.
Can 另 occur before a verb?
Yes. Separate adverbial uses such as 另附 and 另行 are outside this page, which covers only the GF nominal examples.
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, official combined Levels 7-9 item 【七—九003】 (PDF p. 243)
Provides official combined Levels 7-9 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 7, Specifiers and Demonstratives
Supports specifiers before nominal heads; GF supplies the exact nominal examples 该企业, 另一回事, and 兹日. Separate adverbial uses of 另 are outside this claim.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
Compare
的/地Basic 的 and 地 Modifiers
Distinguish between 该另兹 directly qualified nouns and 的 word structures to connect descriptive attributives to avoid writing redundant 的该的 matters.
Compare
这么/那么/这样/那样Manner Demonstratives 这么 and 那么
Distinguish between the formal textual reference of 该另兹 and the on-site or discourse indication of 这么那么这样那样. Pay attention to the occasion of use.
Continue learning
定语语序Basic Attributive Order
Put 该另兹 in the limited position before the noun, and review the basic order of multiple attributive co-occurrences.
RECOMMENDED NEXT
Continue learning
Put 该另兹 in the limited position before the noun, and review the basic order of multiple attributive co-occurrences.