Simple "noun + adjective" sentences
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. Nouns are linked to adjectives with 很. The structure is:
Noun + 很 + Adjective
The noun in this structure is the subject of the sentence. Sometimes the 很 in this structure is translated as "very", but often it is just a way to link a noun to an adjective. In the following examples, 很 is just a link, and the sentences could be translated as "(Noun) is (adjective)".
| Subject | 很 | Adjective | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 我 | 很 | 好 | 。 |
| 她 | 很 | 高 | 。 |
| 他 | 很 | 高兴 | 。 |
| 你 | 很 | 好看 | 。 |
| 大象 | 很 | 大 | 。 |
| 老鼠 | 很 | 小 | 。 |
Remember that 是 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 and not 是 to link adjectives to nouns, as shown below:
- 他是高。
- 他很高。
Sources and further reading
Books
- Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar (pp. 56-8) →buy
- Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (pp. 44-5) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 126-8) →buy
- New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1) (pp. 20-1, 143) →buy
- New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)(2nd ed) (pp. 23, 166, 249) →buy
