Adjective Predicates (No 是)

So, if we don't use 是, what do we use? We use a "degree adverb" like 很 (hěn). You might have learned that 很 means "very." In this specific pattern, however, 很 often loses its strong meaning. It becomes a grammatical placeholder. It acts like the glue between your subject and your adjective. Without this glue, the sentence feels "naked" or unfinished. If you just say 我累 (Wǒ lèi), it sounds like you are comparing yourself to someone else. It feels like you are saying "I am tired (but he isn't)." To just say "I am tired," you need that 很. It balances the sentence. Think of it like a grammar traffic light. It keeps the flow smooth and tells the listener the sentence is complete. You can also use other words like 非常 (fēicháng - extremely) or 太 (tài - too). But for basic descriptions, 很 is your best friend. It is the most common way to link a person or thing to a quality.

1. 1Creating these sentences is like building with LEGO blocks. You just need three main pieces. Follow these steps to build a perfect sentence:
2. 2Start with your Subject. This is the person or thing you are talking about (e.g., 我, 这个咖啡, 他).
3. 3Add a Degree Adverb. Use 很 for a neutral "is." Use 不 (bù) if you want to say "is not."
4. 4Finish with the Adjective. This is the description (e.g., 好, 热, 忙).
5. 5Structure: [Subject] + [Adverb] + [Adjective]
6. 6Example: 我 (Subject) + 很 (Adverb) + 累 (Adjective) = 我很累 (I am tired).
7. 7Example: 他 (Subject) + 不 (Adverb) + 高 (Adjective) = 他不高 (He is not tall).

Use this pattern whenever you want to describe a state or a quality. It is perfect for real-world scenarios. Imagine you are ordering food. You want to tell the waiter the soup is too hot: 汤很热 (Tāng hěn rè). Or maybe you are asking for directions. You want to say the subway station is very far: 地铁站很远 (Dìtiězhàn hěn yuǎn). You can use it in job interviews to describe yourself: 我很努力 (Wǒ hěn nǔlì - I am hardworking). It works for the weather, your feelings, the price of a shirt, or the size of a room. Basically, if you are using an adjective to say "how something is," this is your go-to structure. It is the bread and butter of daily conversation. You will use it dozens of times a day without even thinking about it.

There are a few times when you must put the brakes on this rule. First, never use this pattern when you are linking two nouns. If you want to say "I am a student," you must use 是. Why? Because "student" is a noun, not an adjective. Second, do not use 很 if you are using the word 太 (tài) for "too." For example, 太热了 (tài rè le - too hot). Adding 很 there would be like wearing a belt and suspenders at the same time. It’s just too much. Finally, if you are asking a question with 吗 (ma), you can actually leave the 很 out. You can say 你忙吗？ (Nǐ máng ma?). In the answer, though, the 很 usually comes back to join the party.

The biggest mistake is the "Is-Trap." Many beginners say 我是累 (Wǒ shì lèi). This sounds very "foreign" to Chinese ears. It’s a direct translation from English, but it doesn't work in Chinese. Another mistake is forgetting the 很 in a positive sentence. If you say 她漂亮 (Tā piàoliang), a Chinese person might wait for you to finish the sentence. They might think you are about to say "She is pretty, but her sister is prettier." Without the 很, the sentence feels like a comparison that got cut off. Also, watch out for the negative. Don't say 我不很累 unless you mean "I am not *very* tired." If you just want to say "I'm not tired," simply say 我不累 (Wǒ bù lèi). No 很 needed in the negative!

Let's look at how this differs from other ways to use adjectives. Sometimes, you might see 是的 (shì...de) used for emphasis. For example, 他是很高的 (Tā shì hěn gāo de). This is much stronger and is used to confirm a fact. It’s not for basic descriptions. Also, compare this to the 是 + Noun pattern. 他是老师 (He is a teacher) uses 是 because "teacher" is a noun. 他很专业 (He is professional) uses 很 because "professional" is an adjective. It’s a simple divide: Nouns get 是, Adjectives get 很. Think of it like a fork in the road. You have to choose the right path based on the word type.