Grammar > Chinese Pronouns 汉语代词
Grammatical Functions of Chinese Pronouns
A pronoun(代词 dàicí) is a word that can take the place of a noun, a verb, an adjective, a numeral or an adverb, such as 我, 怎么, 怎样, 怎么样, 几, 多少, 多, 这么 and so on.- A pronoun that is used as a substitute for the proper name of people or things is called a personal pronoun(人称代词), such as 我, 你, 她, 他, 它, 他们, 其, 之 and so on.
- A pronoun that points to(or refers to) people or things is called a demonstrative pronoun(指示代词), such as 这, 那儿, 那里, 此, 如此, 这么, 每, 各, 另, 别的, 其他 and so on.
- A pronoun that is used to indicate interrogation is called an interrogative pronoun(疑问代词), such as 谁, 什么, 几, 多少, 多久, 哪里, 怎么 and so on.
As a subject (主语 Zhǔyǔ)
The subject is the person or thing that performs the action. It is the topic of the sentence.A pronoun can be used as a subject(主语) in the sentence, such as 我, 谁 and 这 in the following sentences.
[Subject(Pronoun) + Predicate + Object]
- Wǒ míng bái le.我明白了。I see． 1
- Shuí gàosu nǐ de?谁告诉你的?Who told you that? 104
- Zhè shìgè xiàohuà.这是个笑话。This is a joke. 3006
As a predicate (谓语 Wèiyǔ)
The predicate is used to state the subject in a sentence.Pronouns can be used as predicates, such as 怎么样, 几岁, and 多少钱 in the following sentences.
[Subject + Predicate(Pronoun)]
- Jīntiān tiānqì zěnme yàng?今天天气怎么样?What's the weather like today? 7714
- Nǐ jǐ suìle?你几岁了？How old are you? 2026
- Zhè shuāng xiézi duōshǎo qián?这双鞋子多少钱？How much is this pair of shoes? 11388
As an object (宾语 Bīnyǔ)
The object in a sentence is the entity that is acted upon by the subject. It is usually placed after the verb.Pronouns can be used as object, such as 他们, 那儿, and 哪里 in the following sentences.
[Subject + Predicate + Object(Pronoun)]
- Wǒ dānxīn de kànzhe tāmen.我担心地看着他们。I looked worriedly at them. 12799
- Shàng gè yuè, wǒ qùle nàr.上个月，我去了那儿。Last month, I went there. 11812
- Zuìjìn de yóujú zài nǎlǐ?最近的邮局在哪里？Where's the nearest post office? 10536
As an attributive (定语 Dìngyǔ)
In grammar, an attributive is a word or phrase that modifies the head noun.The particle "的" is the marker of the attributive. Pronoun + 的 can be used as an attributive to describe head noun, like 你的, 这里的, 谁的, and 我的.
- Wǒ kěyǐ yòng nǐ de bǐ ma?我可以用你的笔吗?May I use your pen? 274
- Wǒ bù tài xǐhuān zhèlǐ de tiānqì.我不 太 喜欢这里的天气。I don't really like the weather here. 11762
- "Zhè shì shéi de bāo?" "Zhè shì wǒ de bāo.""这是谁的包？" "这是我的包。""Whose bag is this?" "This is my bag." 11392
As an adverbial (状语 Zhuàngyǔ)
Adverbial is the part of a sentence that we use to give more information about predicate.Pronouns can be used as adverbial, such as 怎么, 那儿, and 这么 in the following sentences.
[Subject + Adverbial(Pronoun) + Predicate]
- Nǐ zěnme rènwéi?你怎么认为？What do you think? 256
- Nǐ bù gāi nàme zuò.你不该那么做。You shouldn't have behaved like that. 13709
- Dàjiā dōu zhème shuō.大家都这么说。Everyone says like this. 13710
As a complement (补语 Bǔyǔ)
A complement is a sentence part used after a verb or an adjective that supplements the result, degree, tendency, likelihood, state, or quantity of the predicate.Pronouns can be used as complement, such as 怎么, 那儿, and 哪里 in the following sentences.
[Subject + Predicate + Complement(Pronoun)]
- Nǐ de shùxué kǎo de zěnmeyàng?你的数学考得怎么样？How did your math test go? 13286
- Shìqíng yǐjīng biàn chéng zhèyàng.事情已经变成这样。Things have changed like this. 13711
- Tā bù yìnggāi chuān chéng nàyàng.他不应该穿成那样。He shouldn't be dressed like that. 13712