Hello to all here,

I've been studying Mandarin for the past 2 months. I have a specific question about grammar that I haven't figured out yet:

When do we need to put 的 (de) after an adjective to make it into an adjective?

Example: my dictionary says 漂亮的 (piao liang de) = beautiful, BUT we know it is 很漂亮眼睛 (hen piao liang yan jing) not 很漂亮的眼睛 (hen piao liang de yan jing), correct?

Thank you!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/27/2007 08:46PM by Olive.

Hi Sunsetlover,
I'm not an Mandarin expert, but here are some examples that might help you.

When just after a property word like 很 (hěn) or 好 (hǎo) wich can mean "very", the 的 particule is not required (but can be used).
Ex: 她很漂亮 or 这个丫头好漂亮啊！

If the verb 是 (shì) is used, then the 的 particule is required.
Ex: 她是很漂亮的！

If the adjective is linked to a noun, the 的 particule is also required.
Ex: 好漂亮的眼睛

漂亮的 (piao liang de) = beautiful
很漂亮的眼睛 (hen piao liang de yan jing)
很漂亮眼睛 (hen piao liang yan jing)

Usually,
1)when a noun after a adjective, you need add a 的(de) between them. adj.+ de + noun
example: 勇敢的人 美丽的风景 灰暗的天空
2)when a verb after a adj, you need add a 地(de same pronounce) between them.
adj.+ de + verb
example: 勇敢地走 快乐地笑

you can remmber 的 as "belong" "own" " 's "
example:
我的茶杯 mean "my cup".
工作的时间 mean: it's the time that belong to work.
农民的收入 mean: the farmer's income.
这是我的 mean: this is mine.

Manby,de is complex,but not very complex.
ancient Chinese is real complex.

Thank you Jay and Johnny!

I really have to thank Jay for his tremendous effors in this forum!! He's French actually but is crazy about Chinese and its culture! He likes to help everybody who needs it. He's a generous man! By the way, he has a very nice Chinese girl friend