很高的男孩儿
everything that describes a noun comes before it
Structure
数量 + 形容词／名词 + （的） + 名词
What it means
Everything that describes a noun comes before it, never after it as in English “a boy who is very tall”.
How it is built
Number + measure word + description + 的 + noun: 一个 + 很高的 + 男孩儿: 他是一个很高的男孩儿 (He's a very tall boy). 我有一个三岁的女儿.
When to use it
Put 的 after a phrase (很高的, 三岁的, 我的). A one-syllable adjective or a noun used as a label joins straight on with no 的: 小朋友, 新手机, 中文老师.
Watch out
A phrase with 很 needs 的: ✗ 很高男孩儿 ✓ 很高的男孩儿.
Examples
他是一个很高的男孩儿。
He’s a very tall boy.
我有一个三岁的女儿。
I have a three-year-old daughter.
这是我的中文老师。
This is my Chinese teacher.
英国是一个很远的国家。
Britain is a very faraway country.
Learn this in HSK 1 · Lesson 5: 你今年多大 (How old are you?)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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