HSK 1
Adjective Predicate Sentence in Chinese
Chinese adjectives can serve directly as predicates without a copular verb. In a neutral positive statement, 很 often appears before a one-syllable or gradable adjective and may have little emphatic force. Questions and contrasts can omit 很, while stronger degree words such as 非常, 真, or 太 express their own meanings.
STRUCTURE
Subject + Degree + Adjective
When to use 形容词谓语句 — and when not
Use it when
- Give a neutral description: 房间很干净。
- Ask with 吗 without 很: 房间干净吗？
- Use a meaningful degree word when the degree matters: 今天非常冷。
Don't use it when
- Do not copy English word order by inserting 是 before every adjective.
- Do not leave degree adverbs such as 很 without a following adjective.
- Do not put the adjective after a sentence-final particle or after the sentence has already ended.
Right vs. wrong
这个房间很。
这个房间很干净。
The degree adverb has no adjective complement
很 needs a following adjective such as 干净 to complete the predicate.
今天天气很了冷。
今天天气很冷。
The adjective is placed after the sentence-final particle
The adjective belongs directly after 很; sentence-final 了 cannot split the predicate.
Examples
这个房间很干净。
Zhège fángjiān hěn gānjìng.
This room is clean.
今天非常冷。
Jīntiān fēicháng lěng.
It is very cold today.
她高兴吗？
Tā gāoxìng ma?
Is she happy?
Common mistakes
这个房间很。
Zhège fángjiān hěn.
Add the adjective that 很 modifies.
今天天气很了冷。
Jīntiān tiānqì hěn le lěng.
Keep 很冷 together: 今天天气很冷。
Think you've got it?
Write your own 形容词谓语句 sentence and check that grammar point first.
Adjective Predicate Sentence FAQ
Does 很 always mean very?
Not always. In a neutral positive adjective sentence, 很 can make the predicate sound complete without adding strong emphasis.
Can an adjective predicate appear without 很?
Yes, especially in questions, comparisons, contrasts, and contexts with another degree expression. The interpretation depends on context.
Related Chinese grammar points
是字句
是 Sentences: Identification
Easy to confuse
Distinguish direct adjective predication from noun identification with 是.
的/得/地
的 vs 得 vs 地 (the three de)
Continue learning
Compare an adjective predicate with an adjective modifying a noun.
比
The 比 (bǐ) Comparison
Continue learning
Move from a simple quality to comparison of that quality.