Level 1 · Beginner
Possession with 的
A + 的 + B
的 (de) works like apostrophe-s: 老师的书 "the teacher's book", 我的猫 "my cat". The owner always comes first.
For close relationships and groups you belong to, 的 is usually dropped after pronouns: 我妈妈 "my mom", 我们学校 "our school". Saying 我的妈妈 isn't wrong, just less natural.
Examples
这是我的书。
這是我的書。
zhè shì wǒ de shū
This is my book.
那是老师的电脑。
那是老師的電腦。
nà shì lǎo shī de diàn nǎo
That is the teacher's computer.
我的猫很可爱。
我的貓很可愛。
wǒ de māo hěn kě ài
My cat is cute.
我妈妈是老师。
我媽媽是老師。
wǒ mā ma shì lǎo shī
My mom is a teacher.
Common mistakes
✗ 这是书我的。
✓ 这是我的书。
The owner (我的) comes before the thing owned (书).
Related grammar points
See it in a story
Read this pattern in context: The Sailor's Advice — free graded stories with tap-to-reveal pinyin and translations.
