Hi @YuQinCai, @Constance_Fang @Fiona and the ChinesePod team, my question is this:
I’m really struggling when it comes to phrases modifying nouns, but then with a further description of the noun. Could you give me a hand in talking about word order for this kind of thing, particularly around placement of determiners like zhe4 and na4.
Thanks
Craig
Hi Craig,
To solve your problem, you just need to remember one thing: measure words always stay with the nouns. Therefore, we put the determination words 那個/這個/那家/這種 in front of the nouns. Let’s take a look at 的. 的 is used with a longer “adjective” (in your case, it’s modifier). And because measure words always stay with the nouns, the only place for the adjectives is in front of the determination.
Let’s break the sentence down.
蛋糕
蛋糕很好吃
這個 蛋糕很好吃
他買的 這個蛋糕很好吃
But…what if it’s a short adjective (here I mean it’s a phrase not a clause)? We then put it in front of the noun.
蛋糕
蛋糕是他買的
這個 蛋糕是他買的
這個好吃的 蛋糕是他買的
Hope it would help.
Betty
