Lesson 13: How to describe and evaluate: Adjectival-predicate sentences

An adjective as the predicate: don't use 是; an adverb such as 很 usually goes before it.

Hanyu textbook · Hanyu 1 · Lesson 13

这个箱子很重。

Zhège xiāngzi hěn zhòng.

This suitcase is very heavy.

Explanation

An adjective serving as the predicate is often used to describe and evaluate things. Between the subject and predicate of an adjectival-predicate sentence, "是" is not added. An adverb usually has to be added before the adjective; if there is no adverb, the sentence no longer describes but has a comparative meaning.

Don't say: *我是很忙; *我们老师是很好.

Structure

1
Ssubject很hình dung từ
Affirmative form, with an adverb.
- 这个箱子很重。
  Zhège xiāngzi hěn zhòng.
  This suitcase is very heavy.
- 汉字很难。
  Hànzì hěn nán.
  Chinese characters are very difficult.
- 这个汉字很难。
  Zhège Hànzì hěn nán.
  This Chinese character is very difficult.
- 我很忙。
  Wǒ hěn máng.
  I'm very busy.
2
Ssubject不hình dung từ
Negative form: 不 + adjective.
- 我不忙。
  Wǒ bù máng.
  I'm not busy.
- 汉语不太难。
  Hànyǔ bú tài nán.
  Chinese is not very difficult.
- 那个箱子不重。
  Nàge xiāngzi bú zhòng.
  That suitcase isn't heavy.
3
Ssubjecthình dung từ (không có phó từ): mang nghĩa so sánh
Without an adverb, the sentence no longer describes but has a comparative meaning.
- 这个汉字难，（那个汉字不难。）
  Zhège Hànzì nán, (nàge Hànzì bù nán).
  This Chinese character is difficult, (that Chinese character is not).
- 这个箱子重，（那个箱子轻。）
  Zhège xiāngzi zhòng, (nàge xiāngzi qīng).
  This suitcase is heavy, (that suitcase is light).

Common mistakes

~~我是很忙~~
~~我们老师是很好~~
don't add 是 when an adjective is the predicate

Practice

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