Verbal Phrases as Subject, Object & Modifier

Chinese grammar · HSK 3 · 动词短语作主语、宾语和定语 · By Carson 木林森 · Updated October 2026

A verb phrase can do a noun's job in Chinese, serving as a subject, as an object or as a modifier. As a subject it stands alone (学习汉语很有意思), as an object it follows verbs like 决定, and with 的 it modifies a noun.

In English

A verb phrase can do the job of a noun. It can be the subject, as in 学习汉语很有意思 (learning Chinese is interesting). It can be the object of verbs such as 喜欢, 习惯, 决定 and 打算, as in 他决定去中国留学.

It can also modify a noun in the pattern verb phrase + 的 + noun, which works like an English relative clause: 他送给我的礼物很漂亮. When you do this, the object that would repeat inside the phrase is left out.

2. 作宾语：跟在喜欢/习惯/决定/打算等动词后面。
他决定去中国留学。(He decided to study abroad in China.)

3. 作定语 (VP+的+N)：动词短语+的，修饰名词，相当于英语的关系从句。
他送给我的礼物很漂亮。(The gift [that] he gave me is very pretty.)
结构：[VP] + 的 + 名词。VP 里重复的宾语要省略。

Worked examples

Word by word

Each word in this pattern on its own: what it does here, the structure, three more examples, and the mistake to avoid.

的 (de)

Links a verb phrase to the noun it describes, like a relative clause.

Structure: verb phrase + 的 + noun

Not: 我昨天买它的书很有意思。 Leave out the repeated object; 书 is named after 的: 我昨天买的书.

In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 1, particles (结构助词); level 2, particles (语气助词).

的 is also explained in: 的 for Possession and Modification (HSK 1) · Sentence-final Particles: 啊、吧、的 (HSK 2) · Duration complement: V+了+time (HSK 4).

决定 (jué dìng)

Takes a verb phrase directly as its object.

Structure: 决定 + verb phrase

Not: 我决定的去北京。 Do not put 的 after 决定; the verb phrase follows directly.

Produce this pattern without stopping to think about it. GraphChinese drills Verbal Phrases as Subject, Object & Modifier across 13 exercises and schedules the review that keeps it.

What you need first

Every topic in GraphChinese names its own prerequisites, and these are the grammar points this one is built on. If a sentence here will not parse, one of them is why.

• Topic-Comment & Subject-Predicate Predicate

Questions about Verbal Phrases as Subject, Object & Modifier

What does 动词短语作主语、宾语和定语 (Verbal Phrases as Subject, Object & Modifier) mean in Chinese?

A verb phrase can do a noun's job in Chinese, serving as a subject, as an object or as a modifier. As a subject it stands alone (学习汉语很有意思), as an object it follows verbs like 决定, and with 的 it modifies a noun. It is an HSK 3 grammar point.

How do you use 动词短语作主语、宾语和定语 (Verbal Phrases as Subject, Object & Modifier) in a sentence?

每天锻炼身体对健康很有帮助。 — Měi tiān duàn liàn shēn tǐ duì jiàn kāng hěn yǒu bāng zhù. — Exercising every day is very helpful for health. VP (每天锻炼身体) as the subject of the sentence.

What do you need to know before 动词短语作主语、宾语和定语 (Verbal Phrases as Subject, Object & Modifier)?

Topic-Comment & Subject-Predicate Predicate (HSK 3). This pattern is built out of them, so a sentence here that will not parse usually means one of them has not landed yet.

Can a verb phrase be the subject of a sentence?

Yes. Chinese lets a verb phrase stand as a subject without any change: 锻炼身体对健康很好 means exercising is good for health.

What happens to the object inside a 的 phrase?

It is dropped, because the noun after 的 stands for it. Compare 他送给我一本书 with 他送给我的书 (the book he gave me).

Related guides: All 195 grammar points · HSK 3 grammar · How to pass HSK 3 · The HSK levels, explained