Difference between revisions of "Simple "noun + adjective" sentences"
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{{Grammar Box}}  
 
{{Grammar Box}}  
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In English, nouns can be linked to adjectives and other nouns with the verb ''to be''. In Chinese, [[nouns]] are linked in different ways to [[adjectives]] and other nouns. Nouns are linked to [[Connecting nouns with "shi"|nouns with 是 (shì)]]. Nouns are linked to adjectives with 很 (hěn).  
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In English, nouns can be linked to adjectives and other nouns with the verb ''to be''. In Chinese, [[nouns]] are linked in different ways to [[adjectives]] and other nouns. Nouns are linked to [[Connecting nouns with "shi"|nouns with 是 (shì)]]. Nouns are linked to adjectives with 很 (hěn).
  
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== Structure ==
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=== Structure ===
  
 
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The noun in this structure is the subject of the sentence. Sometimes the 很 (hěn) in this structure is translated as "very", but often it is just a way to link a noun to an adjective.  
 
The noun in this structure is the subject of the sentence. Sometimes the 很 (hěn) in this structure is translated as "very", but often it is just a way to link a noun to an adjective.  
  
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== Examples ==
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=== Examples ===
  
 
In the  following examples, 很 (hěn) is just a link, and the sentences could be translated as "(Noun) is (adjective)".
 
In the  following examples, 很 (hěn) is just a link, and the sentences could be translated as "(Noun) is (adjective)".

Revision as of 06:49, 24 June 2015

In English, nouns can be linked to adjectives and other nouns with the verb to be. In Chinese, nouns are linked in different ways to adjectives and other nouns. Nouns are linked to nouns with 是 (shì). Nouns are linked to adjectives with 很 (hěn).

Structure

Noun + 很 + Adjective

The noun in this structure is the subject of the sentence. Sometimes the 很 (hěn) in this structure is translated as "very", but often it is just a way to link a noun to an adjective.

Examples

In the following examples, 很 (hěn) is just a link, and the sentences could be translated as "(Noun) is (adjective)".

  • 我 很 好 。 Wǒ hěn hǎo. I'm good.
  • 她 很 高 。 Tā hěn gāo. She's tall.
  • 他 很 高兴 。 Tā hěn gāoxìng. He is happy.
  • 你 很 好看 。 Nǐ hěn hǎokàn. You are good-looking.
  • 大象 很 大 。 Dàxiàng hěn dà. The elephant is big.
  • 猫 很 小 。 Māo hěn xiǎo. The cat is small.
  • 他 很 坏 。 Tā hěn huài. He's bad.
  • 我 家 的 狗 很 聪明 。 Wǒ jiā de gǒu hěn cōngming. My family's dog is clever.
  • 你 很 漂亮 。 Nǐ hěn piàoliang. You are beautiful.
  • 中文 很 难 。 Zhōngwén hěn nán. Chinese is difficult.

Remember that 是 (shì) is not used to link adjectives to nouns. This is a classic mistake that almost everyone makes when learning Chinese. Make sure you use 很 (hěn) and not 是 (shì) to link adjectives to nouns, as shown below:

  • 他 是高 。Tā shì gāo.
  • 他 很高 。 Tā hěn gāo. He is tall.

See also

Sources and further reading

Videos

Books

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