Vietnamese Noun + này/đó/kia Word Order (Demonstratives After Nouns)
In Vietnamese, 'this/that' usually comes after the noun, such as quyển sách này ('this book').
Quick explanation
Quick explanation
In Vietnamese, 'this/that' usually comes after the noun, such as quyển sách này ('this book').
English meanings
- demonstratives follow nouns
Grammar pattern
Examples
1
Quyển sách này rất hay.
This book is very good.
2
Người đó là bạn tôi.
That person is my friend.
How to use it
In English, you say 'this book,' 'that person,' with the demonstrative before the noun. In Vietnamese, you usually say 'book + this,' 'person + that.' If there is a classifier, the order is classifier + noun + demonstrative, for example quyển sách này.
- này, đó, kia usually follow the noun phrase.
- If there is an adjective, the common order is N + Adj + này.
- To refer to an object alone, you can say cái này, cái đó.
Compared with English
Compared with English
English says 'this + book,' but Vietnamese says quyển sách này. English speakers often put này before the noun, which is unnatural in Vietnamese.
Common mistakes
Này quyển sách rất hay.
Quyển sách này rất hay.
này should come after the noun phrase.
Đó người là bạn tôi.
Người đó là bạn tôi.
đó modifies người and should come after.
Commonly confused grammar
Practice
Multiple choice
Which phrase means 'this book'?
Show answer
Multiple choice
Which phrase means 'this book'?
- quyển sách này
- này quyển sách
- sách này quyển
Answer: quyển sách này
Explanation: In Vietnamese, the demonstrative này comes after the noun phrase.
Fill in the blank
Fill in the blank: Quyển sách ____ rất hay.
Show answer
Fill in the blank
Fill in the blank: Quyển sách ____ rất hay.
Answer: Quyển sách này rất hay.
Explanation: này, đó, kia usually follow the noun phrase.
English to Vietnamese
Translate "This book is very good." into Vietnamese.
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English to Vietnamese
Translate "This book is very good." into Vietnamese.
Answer: Quyển sách này rất hay.
Explanation: Use N + này/đó/kia in the same structure as the example.
True or false
Noun + này/đó/kia word order can always follow English word order.
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True or false
Noun + này/đó/kia word order can always follow English word order.
Answer: False
Explanation: Vietnamese has its own rules for the position of the main word and modifiers, which often differ from English.
Correction
Correct this sentence: Này quyển sách rất hay.
Show answer
Correction
Correct this sentence: Này quyển sách rất hay.
Answer: Quyển sách này rất hay.
Explanation: này should be placed after quyển sách.