Adjective Phrases and Their Sentence Roles in Chinese
形容词性短语
An adjective phrase describes a property or state and commonly serves as a predicate or modifier. It can combine an adjective with a degree adverb, complement, or coordinate adjective. Mandarin adjective predicates do not require 是 in their ordinary descriptive use, but degree markers and paired coordinators must remain in their licensed positions.
Published August 4, 2026
Reviewed August 4, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
Subject + Degree or Coordinate Adjective Phrase
Read the structure
An adjective phrase describes a property or state and commonly serves as a predicate or modifier. It can combine an adjective with a degree adverb, complement, or coordinate adjective. Mandarin adjective predicates do not require 是 in their ordinary descriptive use, but degree markers and paired coordinators must remain in their licensed positions. Keep the model Subject + Degree or Coordinate Adjective Phrase visible while you compare each sentence.
妹妹非常高兴。
My younger sister is extremely happy.
Choose the right context
Describe a subject with a property or state. Modify a noun with a complete descriptive phrase. Coordinate compatible properties in one adjective phrase.
这间屋子又大又亮。
This room is both large and bright.
Respect the boundary
Do not strand a degree adverb after its adjective. Do not leave a paired coordinator without its second adjective. Do not insert 是 before an ordinary adjective predicate by default.
她高兴非常。
(She happy extremely.)
Repair the pattern
The degree adverb trails its adjective: The degree adverb 非常 precedes the adjective 高兴 that it modifies. The second coordinator is left without a predicate: Each 又 must introduce one coordinated property, so a final bare 又 cannot complete the phrase.
她非常高兴。
Use the repaired structure without changing the intended meaning.
02 / MAP
Read the Sentence
Read from left to right and notice the job performed by each part. The labels describe this example; they are not a rule that every Chinese sentence must copy.
妹妹非常高兴。
My younger sister is extremely happy.
妹妹
Subject
This part occupies the Subject position in the model pattern.
非常
Degree or Coordinate Adjective Phrase
This part occupies the Degree or Coordinate Adjective Phrase position in the model pattern.
高兴
Subject
This part occupies the Subject position in the model pattern.
03 / EXAMPLES
Examples You Can Reuse
Keep the structure stable while changing the people, objects, times, or conditions. Pinyin is shown as reading support; use the Chinese sentence and translation to confirm the grammar relationship.
妹妹非常高兴。
My younger sister is extremely happy.
这间屋子又大又亮。
This room is both large and bright.
我买了比较便宜的票。
I bought a relatively inexpensive ticket.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- Describe a subject with a property or state.
- Modify a noun with a complete descriptive phrase.
- Coordinate compatible properties in one adjective phrase.
Do not use it when
- Do not strand a degree adverb after its adjective.
- Do not leave a paired coordinator without its second adjective.
- Do not insert 是 before an ordinary adjective predicate by default.
05 / REPAIR
Compare Right and Wrong
Compare the smallest meaningful change. Each explanation identifies a placement, scope, form, or clause relationship instead of treating the whole sentence as one undifferentiated mistake.
她高兴非常。
她非常高兴。
The degree adverb trails its adjective
The degree adverb 非常 precedes the adjective 高兴 that it modifies.
这件衣服漂亮又可爱又。
这件衣服又漂亮又可爱。
The second coordinator is left without a predicate
Each 又 must introduce one coordinated property, so a final bare 又 cannot complete the phrase.
她高兴非常。
The degree adverb 非常 precedes the adjective 高兴 that it modifies.
这件衣服漂亮又可爱又。
Each 又 must introduce one coordinated property, so a final bare 又 cannot complete the phrase.
06 / PRACTICE
Practice the Grammar Point
Complete three short tasks in order: judge the pattern, repair a common error, and build the sentence. Feedback is fixed and reviewed, so these activities do not use a checker allowance.
1. Judge the sentence
2. Choose the correction
3. Build the sentence
Build a complete sentence with 形容词性短语.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 形容词性短语. Your draft moves to the checker through this browser session, selects this grammar point as the first review focus, and waits for you to submit.
08 / QUESTIONS
Adjective Phrases and Their Sentence Roles Questions
Does an adjective predicate need 是?
Usually not. Degree marking or context commonly links the subject directly to the adjective phrase.
Can adjective phrases modify nouns?
Yes. A longer adjective phrase commonly takes 的 before the noun it modifies.
09 / SOURCES
Sources and Review Notes
These references support different parts of the lesson. GF0025-2021 supports level placement only; professional grammar works support the explanation, limits, examples, and cross-checks. Their inclusion does not imply endorsement.
Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education (GF0025-2021)
Ministry of Education and State Language Commission · Ministry of Education of the PRC · 2021
Locator: Appendix A, Level 2 item 【二41】, PDF p. 190 (printed p. 184)
Places adjective phrases and representative uses at Level 2.
Official source现代汉语语法课程讲义
包头师范学院 · 包头师范学院 · 2024
Locator: 第四节短语, slide 30, functional phrase classes
Treats adjective phrases as predicate phrases that primarily function as predicates.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
Easy to confuse
基本结构类型短语Five Basic Structural Phrase Types
Adjective phrase function differs from the internal relation between its component words.
Continue learning
动词/形容词作谓语Basic Verb and Adjective Predicates
Apply adjective phrases directly as descriptive predicates without an ordinary copula.
Continue learning
形容词谓语句Adjective Predicate Sentence
Apply adjective phrases directly as predicates without inserting an ordinary copula.
Compare
更加/相当Degree with 更加 and 相当
Compare general adjective phrases with more specific comparative and evaluative degree marking.
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Easy to confuse
Adjective phrase function differs from the internal relation between its component words.