HSK 1
动词或动词性短语、形容词或形容词性短语作谓语
dòng cí huò dòng cí xìng duǎn yǔ 、 xíng róng cí huò xíng róng cí xìng duǎn yǔ zuò wèi yǔ
Verbs/verb phrases, adjectives/adjective phrases as the predicate
Explanation
The predicate (谓语 wèiyǔ) is the sentence element stating the action, state, or quality of the subject (the doer, at the start of the sentence). In Chinese, the predicate can be a verb/verb phrase or an adjective/adjective phrase.
Subject + predicate. Verbal predicate: 我们 + 学中文 (we study Chinese); adjectival predicate: 这个菜 + 很好吃 (this dish is very tasty).
to describe what someone does or how something is.
with an ADJECTIVAL predicate, Chinese does NOT use the verb 是 (shì - to be). Learners often translate "this dish (is) tasty" mechanically as 这个菜是好吃 — WRONG; one must say 这个菜很好吃 (using 很 hěn as a filler). In affirmative sentences an adjective usually needs an adverb (a word modifying a verb or adjective) of degree such as 很 before it so the sentence does not carry a comparative meaning.
Examples
He is sick now.
We study Chinese.
Today it is not cold.
This dish is very tasty.
Practice
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Learn “动词或动词性短语、形容词或形容词性短语作谓语” effectively
The grammar point “动词或动词性短语、形容词或形容词性短语作谓语” (Verbs/verb phrases, adjectives/adjective phrases as the predicate) is one of the key structures at HSK 1. To use it fluently, you need to understand the contexts where it's used and practice regularly.
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