Adjectival Predicates and the Verb ‘To Be’ in Chinese

The construction of sentences involving adjectival predicates reveals a fascinating feature of the Chinese language: the verb ‘to be’ is often omitted. This stands in stark contrast to English and many other languages where the verb ‘to be’ is integral to sentence structure. Understanding this unique characteristic enhances one’s comprehension of Chinese syntax and improves communication skills in the language.

Understanding Adjectival Predicates

In English, adjectival predicates typically require the verb ‘to be’ to link the subject with the adjective. For instance:

• “She is tall.”
• “The rent is expensive.”

Here, the verb ‘to be’ (is) acts as a copula, connecting the subject with the adjective. Without this verb, the sentences would be incomplete and grammatically incorrect.

In contrast, Chinese relies on a different structure, where the verb ‘to be’ (是, shì) is not needed in adjectival predicates. This unique feature can be puzzling for learners at first but is a fundamental aspect of Chinese grammar that brings simplicity and efficiency to the language.

The Chinese Approach

In Chinese, an adjective directly follows the subject, often accompanied by the adverb 很 (hěn), which means ‘very’. Although 很 (hěn) translates to ‘very’, in this context, it often functions more as a grammatical particle to link the subject and the adjective rather than emphasizing the degree of the adjective.

Examples:

1. 她很高 (Tā hěn gāo) – “She is (very) tall.”
2. 这所房子的租金很贵 (Zhèi suǒ fángzi de zūjīn hěn guì) – “The rent of this house is (very) expensive.”

In these sentences, 很 (hěn) is essential to the structure but does not always carry its full meaning of ‘very’. Instead, it serves to create a grammatically correct linkage between the subject and the adjective.

Contextual Usage

While 很 (hěn) is frequently used, it is not always required. In more formal or literary contexts, or when the adjective’s intensity needs to be emphasized, different structures or additional words may be employed. However, the fundamental rule remains that the verb ‘to be’ is generally omitted in adjectival predicates.

Consider a casual conversation between friends discussing their day:

Friend A: 今天的天气怎么样？(Jīntiān de tiānqì zěnme yàng?) – “How is the weather today?” Friend B: 天气很冷。(Tiānqì hěn lěng.) – “The weather is (very) cold.”

Here, 很 (hěn) helps convey the quality of the weather without suggesting extreme cold unless further specified.

Implications for Learners

For learners of Chinese, this syntactical difference is crucial. It is a common mistake to insert 是 (shì) into adjectival predicates, which can lead to confusion and incorrect sentence formation. Understanding that the verb ‘to be’ is not necessary in these constructions helps learners form sentences more naturally.

Vocabulary and Phrases

Common Adjectives

Expanding one’s vocabulary with common adjectives is essential for describing various qualities and states. Here are some frequently used adjectives:

• 高 (gāo) – tall
• 矮 (ǎi) – short
• 聪明 (cōngmíng) – smart
• 笨 (bèn) – dumb
• 美丽 (měilì) – beautiful
• 丑 (chǒu) – ugly
• 冷 (lěng) – cold
• 热 (rè) – hot
• 大 (dà) – big
• 小 (xiǎo) – small
• 贵 (guì) – expensive
• 便宜 (piányi) – cheap
• 简单 (jiǎndān) – simple
• 复杂 (fùzá) – complex

Example Sentences

To solidify the understanding of adjectival predicates, let’s look at more example sentences using the adjectives listed above:

1. 她很高 (Tā hěn gāo) – “She is (very) tall.”
2. 他很聪明 (Tā hěn cōngmíng) – “He is (very) smart.”
3. 天气很冷 (Tiānqì hěn lěng) – “The weather is (very) cold.”
4. 这个问题很复杂 (Zhège wèntí hěn fùzá) – “This problem is (very) complex.”
5. 这个苹果很大 (Zhège píngguǒ hěn dà) – “This apple is (very) big.”
6. 那个包很贵 (Nàge bāo hěn guì) – “That bag is (very) expensive.”
7. 她很美丽 (Tā hěn měilì) – “She is (very) beautiful.”
8. 我的猫很小 (Wǒ de māo hěn xiǎo) – “My cat is (very) small.”
9. 今天的作业很简单 (Jīntiān de zuòyè hěn jiǎndān) – “Today’s homework is (very) simple.”

In each sentence, 很 (hěn) serves to link the subject with the adjective smoothly, ensuring grammatical correctness.

More Complex Sentences

To further illustrate the versatility of adjectival predicates in Chinese, here are more complex sentences:

1. 这个房间很干净 (Zhège fángjiān hěn gānjìng) – “This room is (very) clean.”
2. 我的车很脏 (Wǒ de chē hěn zāng) – “My car is (very) dirty.”
3. 他跑得很快 (Tā pǎo de hěn kuài) – “He runs (very) fast.”
4. 她说话很慢 (Tā shuōhuà hěn màn) – “She speaks (very) slowly.”
5. 我今天很高兴 (Wǒ jīntiān hěn gāoxìng) – “I am (very) happy today.”
6. 她听到这个消息很难过 (Tā tīngdào zhège xiāoxi hěn nánguò) – “She was (very) sad to hear this news.”

Degree Modifiers

While 很 (hěn) is commonly used, other degree modifiers can adjust the intensity of the adjective:

• 非常 (fēicháng) – extremely
  • 他非常高 (Tā fēicháng gāo) – “He is extremely tall.”
• 有点 (yǒudiǎn) – somewhat
  • 她有点累 (Tā yǒudiǎn lèi) – “She is somewhat tired.”
• 特别 (tèbié) – particularly
  • 这本书特别有趣 (Zhè běn shū tèbié yǒuqù) – “This book is particularly interesting.”

By using these degree modifiers, speakers can convey a more precise level of intensity for the adjective, adding depth to their descriptions.

Adjectival Phrases in Compound Sentences

In compound sentences, adjectival predicates can be combined to describe multiple qualities:

1. 这个地方很美丽，也很安静 (Zhège dìfāng hěn měilì, yě hěn ānjìng) – “This place is very beautiful and also very quiet.”
2. 他很聪明，但是很懒 (Tā hěn cōngmíng, dànshì hěn lǎn) – “He is very smart but very lazy.”

These compound sentences show how multiple adjectival predicates can coexist within a single sentence, providing a richer description.

Expanded Vocabulary and Phrases

To further build your Chinese proficiency, here are more adjectives and example sentences:

More Adjectives:

• 快 (kuài) – fast
• 慢 (màn) – slow
• 难 (nán) – difficult
• 容易 (róngyì) – easy
• 远 (yuǎn) – far
• 近 (jìn) – near
• 重要 (zhòngyào) – important
• 无聊 (wúliáo) – boring

Additional Example Sentences:

1. 他跑得很快 (Tā pǎo de hěn kuài) – “He runs very fast.”
2. 她走得很慢 (Tā zǒu de hěn màn) – “She walks very slowly.”
3. 这道题很难 (Zhè dào tí hěn nán) – “This question is very difficult.”
4. 这个工作很容易 (Zhège gōngzuò hěn róngyì) – “This job is very easy.”
5. 我的家很远 (Wǒ de jiā hěn yuǎn) – “My home is very far.”
6. 学校很近 (Xuéxiào hěn jìn) – “The school is very near.”
7. 这个决定很重要 (Zhège juédìng hěn zhòngyào) – “This decision is very important.”
8. 这部电影很无聊 (Zhè bù diànyǐng hěn wúliáo) – “This movie is very boring.”

Commonly Used Phrases and Expressions

To make conversations more natural, it’s useful to learn phrases that frequently appear in daily life. Here are some commonly used adjectival phrases:

1. 你今天看起来很累 (Nǐ jīntiān kànqǐlái hěn lèi) – “You look very tired today.”
2. 我觉得这个菜很咸 (Wǒ juéde zhège cài hěn xián) – “I think this dish is very salty.”
3. 他的中文很好 (Tā de Zhōngwén hěn hǎo) – “His Chinese is very good.”
4. 这个地方很危险 (Zhège dìfāng hěn wēixiǎn) – “This place is very dangerous.”
5. 这个故事很有趣 (Zhège gùshi hěn yǒuqù) – “This story is very interesting.”
6. 她的声音很甜美 (Tā de shēngyīn hěn tiánměi) – “Her voice is very sweet.”
7. 你家很温馨 (Nǐ jiā hěn wēnxīn) – “Your home is very cozy.”
8. 今天的会很重要 (Jīntiān de huì hěn zhòngyào) – “Today’s meeting is very important.”

Descriptive Phrases with Colors

Color adjectives also follow the same structure. Here are some examples:

1. 这个房间很明亮 (Zhège fángjiān hěn míngliàng) – “This room is very bright.”
2. 她的头发很黑 (Tā de tóufǎ hěn hēi) – “Her hair is very black.”
3. 这辆车很红 (Zhè liàng chē hěn hóng) – “This car is very red.”
4. 天空很蓝 (Tiānkōng hěn lán) – “The sky is very blue.”
5. 这些花很漂亮 (Zhèxiē huā hěn piàoliang) – “These flowers are very beautiful.”

Expressing Feelings and Emotions

Describing feelings and emotions is a common use of adjectival predicates:

1. 我很开心 (Wǒ hěn kāixīn) – “I am very happy.”
2. 他很生气 (Tā hěn shēngqì) – “He is very angry.”
3. 她很难过 (Tā hěn nánguò) – “She is very sad.”
4. 我们很兴奋 (Wǒmen hěn xīngfèn) – “We are very excited.”
5. 你很害怕 (Nǐ hěn hàipà) – “You are very scared.”

Describing Objects and Scenery

When describing objects or scenery, the structure remains the same:

1. 这个书包很轻 (Zhège shūbāo hěn qīng) – “This backpack is very light.”
2. 那座山很高 (Nà zuò shān hěn gāo) – “That mountain is very tall.”
3. 河水很清澈 (Héshuǐ hěn qīngchè) – “The river water is very clear.”
4. 这座城市很现代 (Zhè zuò chéngshì hěn xiàndài) – “This city is very modern.”
5. 公园很安静 (Gōngyuán hěn ānjìng) – “The park is very quiet.”

Conclusion

The omission of the verb ‘to be’ in Chinese adjectival predicates highlights a significant syntactic difference from English. This feature simplifies sentence construction in some respects but requires learners to adjust their understanding of how subjects and adjectives interact. Mastering this aspect of Chinese grammar allows for more accurate and fluid communication, essential for both casual conversation and formal discourse. Understanding and practicing this structure aids in achieving fluency and a deeper appreciation of the linguistic nuances of Chinese.

By exploring and using a variety of adjectives, degree modifiers, and sentence structures, learners can effectively express a wide range of qualities and nuances in their speech and writing, making their use of Chinese more versatile and nuanced. With consistent practice and exposure, the omission of the verb ‘to be’ in adjectival predicates becomes a natural part of language use, reflecting a deeper understanding of Chinese grammar and communication.