Lesson 9 - Pronouns

Pronouns are words that replace nouns. For example, I, you etc.
You have already learnt about pronouns since lesson 1. Here are somemore that you would have to know:

1. 我们 (wo3 men2) - We, us
2. 你们 (ni3 men2) - You (Plural)
3. 他们 (ta1 men2) - They
4. 它 (ta1) - It

For example,

1. 他们 在玩 球。 (ta1 men2 zai4 wan2 qiu2) - They are playing ball.
2. 它 是 一只 狗。(ta1 shi4 yi1 zhi1 gou3) - It is a dog.

Notice, him, her and it are all pronounced as ta1, so no distinction is needed when speaking. However they are written as different characters. (他，她，它)

Possessive Pronouns are very important in Chinese. To indicate a possessive nature, the word '的' (de4) is used. It is one of the most important and common word in Chinese as it serves a lot of uses. For now, it is used as a Possessive Article.

The word '的' (de4) is placed in between two nouns to indicate that the 'Latter is part of the former', 'The former's latter', 'The latter of the former' etc.

For example,

1. 我 的 狗 (wo3 de4 gou3) - My dog
2. 他 的 衣服 (ta1 de4 yi1 fu2) - His clothes
3. 小林 的 笔 (xiao3 lin2 de4 bi3) - Xiao-Lin's pen.

It can also be attached the the pronoun itself to mean possessive nature, for example,

1. 狗 是 我的。(gou3 shi4 wo3 de4) - Dog is mine.
2. 衣服 是 他的。(yi1 fu2 shi4 ta1 de4) - The clothes is his.
3. 笔 是 小林的。(bi3 shi4 xiao3 lin2 de4) - The pen is Xiao-Lin's.