This document discusses elements of Chinese grammar including parts of speech, word order, and sentence structure. It provides examples of attributives, subjects, objects, and adverbials in Chinese sentences. It notes that word order in Chinese follows a pattern from large to small units of time and place. It also explains the typical order of attributives modifying nouns or pronouns and the order of adverbials in Chinese sentences.

1. Attributives
S ONouns
Pronouns
Noun phrases
Adverbials Predicates Complements ObjectsAttributivesSubjects
我
Wǒ
I
shì
是
am
jiějie
姐姐
elder sister
我(的)
Wǒde
My
也
yě
also
shì
是
is
xuésheng.
学生。
student.
我(的)
Wǒde
My
jiějie
姐姐
elder sister
坦佩雷大学的
Tǎnpèiléi dàxuéde
University of Tampere's
在坦佩雷
zài Tǎnpèiléi
in Tampere
上
shàng
attends
大学。
dàxué.
university.
我(的)
Wǒde
My
jiějie
姐姐
elder sister
xuésheng.
学生。
student.
上了
shàngle
has attended
三年
sānnián
three years
大学。
dàxué.
university.
我(的)
Wǒde
My
jiějie
姐姐
elder sister
在坦佩雷
zài Tǎnpèiléi
in Tampere
xuésheng.
学生。
student.
VNouns
Verbs
Adjectives
中国北京朝阳区定福庄东街1号
Pronouns
Noun phrases
Attributives
The order of places are from big to small, e.g. China, Beijing, Chaoyang District, Dingfuzhuangdong street, No.1
Notes:
The order of time is also from big to small, like year, month, day, week and etc.
2011年12月31日星期六 2011 December, 31st, Saturday
The subject or object can have various attributives ,i.e.words or phrases to modify them. Sometimes the
attributives can be used simultaneously and are arranged according to the following order. ⑴Possessive
noun or pronoun + ⑵demonstravtive pronoun + ⑶numeral-measure word phrase + ⑷descriptive
adjective or noun + ⑸head word of personal or non-personal reference.
我朋友那辆奔驰（汽车）My friend's Mercedes-Benz (car)
Adverbials are arranged in the following order: ⑴time + ⑵place + ⑶scope + ⑷degree + ⑸emotion
or manner + ⑹target,instrument, direction,etc + ⑺head word: verb or predicate
上星期日在家里都很高兴地跟他（玩）last Sunday at home all very happily with him (play)
Chinese Sentence Pattern
shì
是
is