Difference between revisions of "Simple "noun + adjective" sentences"

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* [[Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar]] (pp. 56 - 58) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1933330899/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=1933330899 →buy]  
 
* [[Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar]] (pp. 56 - 58) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1933330899/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=1933330899 →buy]  
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[[New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)]] (pp. 20-21) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561910401/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561910401 →buy]
  
 
[[Category:A1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:A1 grammar points]]

Revision as of 02:40, 30 December 2011

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)".

Simple 很 sentences
Subject Adjective
高兴
好看
大象
老鼠

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:

  • 高。
  • 高。

Sources and further reading

Books

New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1) (pp. 20-21) →buy