Difference between revisions of "Adjective"

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Adjectives are the "describing" words of a language. In Chinese, they have some characteristics that they don't have in English.

Characteristics

The majority of adjectives can be modified by both the adverb "不" and the adverb "很".
In sentences, adjectives are generally predicates, attributes, or complements.
Adjectives do not take objects.
Adjectives can be reduplicated.

Notes

Adjectives can form positive-negative questions.
Adjective reduplication
- Some adjectives can be reduplicated for emphasis.
  - They are reduplicated AABB e.g. 干干净净, ABB e.g. 红通通 or BABA e.g. 雪白雪白
  - 的 must be used with reduplicated adjectives.
Adjectives can be followed by complements such as "budeliao". These complements usually express degree.
Adjectives can function as predicates. However, 是 is not used with adjectives. Instead, you have to use "很".
- 很 is used with adjectives
  - 很 in neutral tone just indicates the predicate.
  - 很 in third tone adds emphasis to the adjective.
- Some adjectives are not preceded by 很, but are followed by 了: 饿, 渴, 病
Single character adjectives can modify directly, e.g. 新书. 的 can optionally be inserted to emphasize the adjective: 新的书.
A two character adjective modifying a single character noun has to have 的, e.g. 好看的画.
If the adjective and noun are both two characters, 的 is optional as with single character adjectives.
Rules for 的 for modifying nouns also apply to 地 for modifying verbs.
多 and 少 are special
- Must be combined with 很 or 不 to form attributives for nouns
- 的 is not necessary with 多 and 少.
Different ways to say:
- Bad
- Nice
- Beautiful
Patterns
- 半 ... 不 ...
- 甭提多 / 别提多

Sources and further reading

外国人实用汉语语法(中英文对照) (pp. 48 - 57)4
Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar (pp. 56 - 64)
实用汉语语法 (pp. 52 - 54)
Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 56 - 68)
汉语常用格式330例

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{stub}}
+Adjectives are the "describing" words of a language. In Chinese, they have some characteristics that they don't have in English.
+==Characteristics==
+# The majority of adjectives can be modified by both the [[Standard negation with "bu"|adverb "不"]] and the [[Simple "noun + adjective" sentences|adverb "很"]].
+# In sentences, adjectives are generally predicates, attributes, or complements.
+# Adjectives do not take objects.
+# Adjectives can be [[Reduplication of adjectives|reduplicated]].
 == Notes ==
-* Adjectives negated with 不
 * Adjectives can form [[Affirmative-negative questions|positive-negative questions]].
 * [[Adjective reduplication]]
@@ Line 9: / Line 16: @@
 *** They are reduplicated AABB e.g. 干干净净, ABB e.g. 红通通 or BABA e.g. 雪白雪白
 *** 的 must be used with reduplicated adjectives.
-* Can be followed by complements
+* Adjectives can be followed by complements such as "[[budeliao]]". These complements usually express degree.
-* Can function as predicate. 是 is not used with adjectives.
+* Adjectives can function as predicates. However, 是 is not used with adjectives. Instead, you have to use "很".
-** 很 can be used with adjectives
+** 很 is used with adjectives
 *** 很 in neutral tone just indicates the predicate.
 *** 很 in third tone adds emphasis to the adjective.
 ** Some adjectives are not preceded by 很, but are followed by 了: 饿, 渴, 病
-* Single character adjectives can modify directly, e.g. 新书. 的 can optionally be inserted to emphasise the adjective: 新的书.
+* Single character adjectives can modify directly, e.g. 新书. 的 can optionally be inserted to emphasize the adjective: 新的书.
 * A two character adjective modifying a single character noun has to have 的, e.g. 好看的画.
 * If the adjective and noun are both two characters, 的 is optional as with single character adjectives.
@@ Line 29: / Line 36: @@
 ** 半 ... 不 ...
 ** 甭提多 / 别提多
-**
 * [[Stative verbs]]