定语顺序【dìngyǔ shùnxù】

Everything that describes a noun goes in front of it, and when several pile up they keep a fixed order. The owner comes first, then 这 or 那 with a number and measure word, then descriptions joined by 的, and last the short words with no 的 that sit right against the noun.

The owner first

A 的 phrase naming the owner goes in front of 这 / 那 and the number.

• × 那两本我的书 → 我的那两本书

Count before description

An adjective with 很 or another 的 phrase follows the number and measure word, not the other way round. English "a very good teacher" has the same order.

• × 一个老师很好 → 一个很好的老师

That word order makes a full sentence: "one teacher is very good".

A clause can go either side of 那个

A clause with 的 – "who just arrived", "you bought yesterday" – can go after the count, or before 这 / 那. Both orders are common; in front of 这 / 那, the clause picks out which one you mean.

Bare words next to the noun

One-syllable adjectives like 新, 旧, 大, 小 and nouns of nationality or type join the noun with no 的, and they stay closest to it. Anything with 的 goes further out.

• × 那新的两本书 → 那两本新书