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Lesson

Whose One (…的)

1. Explain it simply

After a pronoun, adjective, or color, 的 can stand alone and mean 'the one' (我的 = mine, 红色的 = the red one).

The noun is understood, so you don't repeat it.

Keep the 的 and never double it.

2. Show examples

这个是我的。

Zhège shì wǒ de.

This one is mine.

我的 = mine

左边那个红色的是我的。

Zuǒbian nàge hóngsè de shì wǒ de.

The red one on the left is mine.

红色的 = the red one

白色的是老师的。

Báisè de shì lǎoshī de.

The white one is the teacher's.

白色的 = the white one

3. Share a tip

红色 means 'red'; 红色的 means 'the red one'. The 的 turns the description into 'the one'.