Basic Verb and Adjective Predicates in Chinese
动词/形容词作谓语
A Mandarin predicate can center on an action verb or an adjectival verb. Action predicates take their own objects and aspect markers as needed. Adjectival predicates do not require 是; in a neutral positive description they commonly take 很, which prevents the bare adjective from sounding contrastive.
Published July 23, 2026
Reviewed July 23, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
Subject + Verb Phrase; Subject + Degree Adverb + Adjective
Read the structure
A Mandarin predicate can center on an action verb or an adjectival verb. Action predicates take their own objects and aspect markers as needed. Adjectival predicates do not require 是; in a neutral positive description they commonly take 很, which prevents the bare adjective from sounding contrastive. Keep the model Subject + Verb Phrase; Subject + Degree Adverb + Adjective visible while you compare each sentence.
我学习中文。
I study Chinese.
Choose the right context
Use a verb phrase after the subject to state an action. Use 很 plus an adjective to make a neutral positive description. Use 不 directly before an adjective to form its negative predicate.
她很高。
She is tall.
Respect the boundary
Do not insert 是 before an ordinary adjectival predicate. Do not place an action verb's object before the verb in a basic clause. Do not add 很 to a predicate whose intended meaning is a sharp contrast.
她是高很。
(She is tall.)
Repair the pattern
Copula and degree adverb reversed around adjective: An ordinary adjectival predicate uses degree adverb 很 directly before 高 and does not take copula 是. 把 lacks an object before the action: 把 must introduce a displaced object before the following action; it cannot stand directly before 学习 with no object of its own.
她很高。
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.
我学习中文。
I study Chinese.
我
Subject
This part occupies the Subject position in the model pattern.
学习
Verb Phrase; Subject
This part occupies the Verb Phrase; Subject position in the model pattern.
中文
Degree Adverb
This part occupies the Degree Adverb 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.
我学习中文。
I study Chinese.
她很高。
She is tall.
今天不冷。
It is not cold today.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- Use a verb phrase after the subject to state an action.
- Use 很 plus an adjective to make a neutral positive description.
- Use 不 directly before an adjective to form its negative predicate.
Do not use it when
- Do not insert 是 before an ordinary adjectival predicate.
- Do not place an action verb's object before the verb in a basic clause.
- Do not add 很 to a predicate whose intended meaning is a sharp contrast.
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.
她是高很。
她很高。
Copula and degree adverb reversed around adjective
An ordinary adjectival predicate uses degree adverb 很 directly before 高 and does not take copula 是.
我把学习中文。
我学习中文。
把 lacks an object before the action
把 must introduce a displaced object before the following action; it cannot stand directly before 学习 with no object of its own.
她是高很。
An ordinary adjectival predicate uses degree adverb 很 directly before 高 and does not take copula 是.
我把学习中文。
把 must introduce a displaced object before the following action; it cannot stand directly before 学习 with no object of its own.
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 动词/形容词作谓语.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 动词/形容词作谓语. 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
Basic Verb and Adjective Predicates Questions
Are Mandarin adjectives verbs?
Many adjectives can serve directly as predicates and can take negation or degree adverbs without 是.
Why does a positive adjective often use 很?
It commonly makes the description neutral; a bare adjective can invite a contrastive reading.
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: GF0025-2021 Appendix A, Level 1 item 【一25】 (PDF p. 180)
Provides official Level 1 directory placement and examples only; it does not establish the learner-facing usage explanation.
Official sourceModern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide, 3rd ed.
Ross, Ma, Chen, He and Yeh · Routledge · 2024
Locator: Chapter 10, Adjectives and Adjectival Verbs; Chapter 13, Action Verbs
Distinguishes action predicates from adjectival predicates and explains why ordinary adjective predicates do not take 是.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
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