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HSK 2 Functional Phrase Types: Nominal Phrases (名词性短语)
A nominal phrase (名词性短语) is a group of words that functions together like a single noun in a sentence, typically serving as a subject or object. At HSK Level 2, mastering nominal phrases means placing all descriptive modifiers, possessives, demonstratives, and measure words before the head noun—or using a 的 phrase when the head noun is clear from context.
桌子上那本新书是我弟弟的。
This sentence contains two nominal phrases: '桌子上那本新书' acts as the subject, and the headless 的 phrase '我弟弟的' (my younger brother's [book]) acts as the object after 是.
× 我买了书新的。
Incorrect: In a Chinese nominal phrase referring to 'a new book' as the object of 买, the modifier cannot follow the head noun 书. Replace with “我买了新书。”.
Corrected example: 我买了新书。
Read the full explanation and examples
What Is a Nominal Phrase (名词性短语)?
In the HSK Level 2 syllabus, phrases are categorized by their functional type (功能类型), and the first core category is the nominal phrase (名词性短语). In everyday grammar terms, a nominal phrase is a multi-word unit that behaves like a single noun. Instead of using just a bare noun like 书 (book) or 衣服 (clothes), speakers expand the noun into a phrase to specify which one, how many, whose it is, or what it looks like.
Because the entire group of words functions as a single naming unit, you can drop a complete nominal phrase directly into the subject slot (before the verb) or the object slot (after a transitive verb or preposition). Recognizing the boundaries of a nominal phrase helps you read longer Chinese sentences without getting lost in individual words.
桌子上那本新书是我弟弟的。
This sentence contains two nominal phrases: '桌子上那本新书' acts as the subject, and the headless 的 phrase '我弟弟的' (my younger brother's [book]) acts as the object after 是.
How to Build Nominal Phrases at HSK 2
In a modifier-head nominal phrase, Chinese normally puts the descriptive modifier before the head noun: 新书 or 漂亮的书. This is the pattern to use for the examples here, not a claim that every nominal phrase has the same internal structure. Nominal phrases can also be coordinated or use a headless 的 construction.
- Modifier + Head Noun (偏正短语): A possessor, location, adjective, or describing phrase comes before the noun, often linked by 的 (or directly attached for common monosyllabic adjectives like 新 or 白). When combining demonstratives/numbers and adjectives, put the demonstrative + measure word first, then the adjective, and the head noun last.
- Quantity + Head Noun (数量/指量短语): A demonstrative (这, 那) or number plus a measure word (such as 本, 件, 个) precedes the noun to specify count or selection.
- Coordinate Nouns (联合短语): Two or more nouns or pronouns joined by 和 (and) act together as one plural subject or object.
- Headless 的 Phrases (的字短语): When context already makes the noun obvious, a modifier followed by 的 stands alone as a nominal phrase meaning 'the [modifier] one' or '[someone]'s'.
姐姐昨天买了两件白衣服。
Here '两件白衣服' is a nominal phrase combining a number, measure word, monosyllabic adjective, and head noun, serving as the object of 买.
老师和学生都在教室里。
The coordinate nominal phrase '老师和学生' joins two nouns with 和 to serve as a single plural subject, while '教室里' is a locative nominal phrase.
这件红的太贵了，我想看那件蓝的。
Both '这件红的' and '那件蓝的' are nominal phrases where the head noun (such as 衣服) is omitted after 的 because the context already makes it clear.
Where Nominal Phrases Fit in Real Situations
In daily communication—such as shopping, identifying belongings, or describing people at school or work—a single noun is rarely specific enough. If two shirts are on a rack, saying you want 衣服 does not help the clerk. You use a nominal phrase like 那件蓝的 (that blue one) or 两件白衣服 (two white shirts) to narrow down the reference.
Useful Contrasts and Common Word-Order Mistakes
For learners whose native language places adjectives, prepositional phrases, or relative clauses after the noun, the most common error in Chinese is putting the head noun first and tacking the description onto the end. In a Chinese nominal phrase, placing an adjective or 的 modifier after the noun breaks the phrase structure.
× 我买了书新的。
Incorrect: In a Chinese nominal phrase referring to 'a new book' as the object of 买, the modifier cannot follow the head noun 书. Replace with “我买了新书。”.
Corrected example: 我买了新书。
我买了新书。
Correct replacement for “我买了书新的。”: the adjective 新 comes before the head noun 书 (or 新的书 when contrasting or emphasizing).
It is also helpful to contrast a nominal phrase with phrases that center on an action or state. A nominal phrase names an entity (a person, place, or thing) and typically needs a verb like 是, 在, 有, or an action verb to make a complete statement. By contrast, when an action word is the center of the phrase—as in the example below—it functions as the predicate telling us what the subject does, rather than naming a thing.
他每天早上跑步。
Contrast: Here '每天早上跑步' centers on the action 跑步 and serves as the predicate of the sentence, rather than naming a person or object like a nominal phrase.
Frequently asked questions
Does a nominal phrase (名词性短语) always have to end with an actual noun?
Usually it ends with a head noun, or a location word like 里 or 上, or a pronoun. However, two very common nominal phrase patterns do not have a visible noun at the end: coordinate phrases made of pronouns, and headless 的 phrases like 红的 (the red one) or 我弟弟的 (my younger brother's), where the noun is understood from context.
When do I use 的 between an adjective and the head noun in a nominal phrase?
Use the natural construction for the modifier and noun, rather than a syllable-count rule alone. 新书 and 好朋友 commonly omit 的. Many descriptive phrases use it, as in 很漂亮的书. Possessive expressions can also omit it in familiar relationships, as in 我妈妈 or 我们学校. In a headless 的 phrase such as 红的, retain 的 because it helps form the nominal expression.
If a nominal phrase has both 'this/that + measure word' and an adjective, which comes first?
A useful basic order is demonstrative/number + measure word + adjective + noun, as in 那本新书. With a descriptive 的 phrase, both 那本漂亮的书 and 漂亮的那本书 can be natural; their focus and context differ. Learn the common order without treating it as the only grammatical arrangement.
