ParticlesHSK 4

Using 的 (modal particle)

Use the sentence-final particle 的 to add emphasis or conviction to a statement. It often follows auxiliaries like 会 or 能 to stress certainty or capability. The most common pitfall is confusing this emphatic 的 with the possessive or nominalizer 的 — here it only affects the tone, not the grammar.

Structure

Subj. + 会 / 能 / 可以 + Verb (+ Obj.) + 的
adds emphasis or certainty, often with 会
Subj. + Verb + 过 + 的
used to emphasize a past experience when stated as a fact

Examples

  • 他会好
    Tā huì hǎo de .
    He will get better.
  • 你可以
    Nǐ kěyǐ de .
    You can do this.
  • 她一定会来
    Tā yīdìng huì lái de .
    She's definitely coming.
  • 他不会道歉
    Tā bù huì dàoqiàn de .
    He's not going to apologize.
  • 这个地方我们来过
    Zhège dìfang wǒmen lái guo de .
    We've been here before.

Words that use this