Predicate Phrases as Attributives in Chinese
谓词性短语和主谓短语作定语
A verb phrase or subject-predicate phrase can modify a following noun, normally with 的 marking the boundary. The modifier identifies the noun through an action, participant, or proposition: 跳舞的女孩 and 小白讲的故事. The noun remains outside the modifying phrase, and a phrase-internal subject must stay before its predicate.
Published August 5, 2026
Reviewed August 5, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
Verb or Subject-Predicate Phrase + 的 + Noun
Read the structure
A verb phrase or subject-predicate phrase can modify a following noun, normally with 的 marking the boundary. The modifier identifies the noun through an action, participant, or proposition: 跳舞的女孩 and 小白讲的故事. The noun remains outside the modifying phrase, and a phrase-internal subject must stay before its predicate. Keep the model Verb or Subject-Predicate Phrase + 的 + Noun visible while you compare each sentence.
你看见那个跳舞的女孩儿了吗？
Did you see that girl who was dancing?
Choose the right context
Identify a person or thing by an action. Use a subject-predicate unit to specify a following noun. Build longer noun phrases with a clear 的 boundary.
观看演出的观众请进去。
Audience members watching the performance, please enter.
Respect the boundary
Do not move the head noun inside the modifier. Do not reverse the internal subject and predicate. Do not strand 的 after the head noun.
那个女孩儿跳舞的来了。
(That girl dancing de arrived.)
Repair the pattern
The head noun precedes its modifier: The action modifier 跳舞的 must precede the head noun 女孩儿. The internal subject follows its predicate: Inside the modifying clause, subject 小白 precedes predicate 讲 before 的.
那个跳舞的女孩儿来了。
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.
你看见那个跳舞的女孩儿了吗？
Did you see that girl who was dancing?
你
Verb or Subject-Predicate Phrase
This part occupies the Verb or Subject-Predicate Phrase position in the model pattern.
看见
的
This part occupies the 的 position in the model pattern.
那个
Noun
This part occupies the Noun position in the model pattern.
跳舞
Verb or Subject-Predicate Phrase
This part occupies the Verb or Subject-Predicate Phrase position in the model pattern.
的
的
This part occupies the 的 position in the model pattern.
女孩
Noun
This part occupies the Noun position in the model pattern.
儿
Verb or Subject-Predicate Phrase
This part occupies the Verb or Subject-Predicate Phrase position in the model pattern.
了
的
This part occupies the 的 position in the model pattern.
吗
Noun
This part occupies the Noun 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.
你看见那个跳舞的女孩儿了吗？
Did you see that girl who was dancing?
观看演出的观众请进去。
Audience members watching the performance, please enter.
小白讲的故事很有意思。
The story Xiaobai told is interesting.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- Identify a person or thing by an action.
- Use a subject-predicate unit to specify a following noun.
- Build longer noun phrases with a clear 的 boundary.
Do not use it when
- Do not move the head noun inside the modifier.
- Do not reverse the internal subject and predicate.
- Do not strand 的 after the head noun.
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.
那个女孩儿跳舞的来了。
那个跳舞的女孩儿来了。
The head noun precedes its modifier
The action modifier 跳舞的 must precede the head noun 女孩儿.
讲小白的故事很有意思。
小白讲的故事很有意思。
The internal subject follows its predicate
Inside the modifying clause, subject 小白 precedes predicate 讲 before 的.
那个女孩儿跳舞的来了。
The action modifier 跳舞的 must precede the head noun 女孩儿.
讲小白的故事很有意思。
Inside the modifying clause, subject 小白 precedes predicate 讲 before 的.
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 谓词性短语和主谓短语作定语.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 谓词性短语和主谓短语作定语. 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
Predicate Phrases as Attributives Questions
Must longer predicate modifiers take 的?
They normally do in the listed pattern because 的 closes the modifier before the head noun.
Can the modifier contain its own subject?
Yes. A subject-predicate phrase such as 小白讲 can modify a noun as 小白讲的故事.
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 3 item 【三45】, PDF p. 205 (printed p. 199)
Places verb and subject-predicate phrases functioning as attributives at Level 3.
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: 短语功能类, slide 30
Lists verb and subject-predicate phrases among predicate phrases and distinguishes their sentence functions.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
Continue learning
定语语序Basic Attributive Order
Apply the modifier-before-head order to complete predicate phrase modifiers.
Easy to confuse
同位短语Appositive Phrases
A modifying proposition differs from two nominal expressions sharing one referent.
Learn first
基本结构类型短语Five Basic Structural Phrase Types
Recognize internal phrase relations before using the whole phrase as modifier.
RECOMMENDED NEXT
Continue learning
Apply the modifier-before-head order to complete predicate phrase modifiers.