很 + Adjective Predicates

A1 — 形容词

Using 很 (hěn) with adjective predicates instead of 是 (shì)

I can describe people and things using adjective predicates with 很

Examples

今天天气很冷。 — The weather is cold today.
中文很有意思。 — Chinese is very interesting.
这个菜很好吃。 — This dish is delicious.

AdjectivesA1

很 + Adjective Predicates

Using 很 (hěn) with adjective predicates instead of 是 (shì)

Learning Goal

I can describe people and things using adjective predicates with 很

Exam Skills:HSK 1 · ReadingHSK 1 · Speaking

Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?

今天天气很冷。

The weather is cold today.

中文很有意思。

Chinese is very interesting.

这个菜很好吃。

This dish is delicious.

Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?

很+形容词 — Adjective Predicates with 很

In Chinese, adjectives act as verbs — they do not need 是 (to be). Instead, use 很 (hěn) before the adjective in neutral statements.

Correct ✓	Wrong ✗	Meaning
她很漂亮 tā hěn piàoliang	*她是漂亮	She is pretty
天气很冷 tiānqì hěn lěng	*天气是冷	The weather is cold
中文很难 zhōngwén hěn nán	*中文是难	Chinese is hard

Important: 很 in neutral statements does NOT mean 'very' — it is just a structural filler. For real emphasis, use 非常 (fēicháng) or stress 很 with tone.

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

Practice Exercises

The biggest error is using 是 (shì) before adjectives like English 'is': *她是漂亮. Chinese adjectives function as verbs — use 很, not 是. 🇬🇧 English speakers: English requires 'is/are' before adjectives (She IS pretty). Chinese adjectives are stative verbs — 很 replaces 'is'.

Common Error Patterns

Used 是 before an adjective instead of 很

Adjectives in Chinese are stative verbs. Say 她很漂亮, not *她是漂亮. Use 是 only before nouns.

今天天气很冷。

The weather is cold today.

天气很冷 (tiānqì hěn lěng) — Subject + 很 + Adjective. No 是 needed. 很 here is neutral, not emphatic.

中文很有意思。

Chinese is very interesting.

中文很有意思 (zhōngwén hěn yǒu yìsi) — for emphasis, stress 很 or use 非常 (fēicháng, truly very).

这个菜很好吃。

This dish is delicious.

这个菜很好吃 (zhè gè cài hěn hǎochī) — 好吃 = delicious. Remember: Subject + 很 + Adj, never *这个菜是好吃.

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Frequently asked questions

When do you use 很 + Adjective Predicates?: In Chinese, adjectives act as verbs — they do not need 是 (to be). Instead, use 很 (hěn) before the adjective in neutral statements.
How do you form 很 + Adjective Predicates?: Important: 很 in neutral statements does NOT mean 'very' — it is just a structural filler. For real emphasis, use 非常 (fēicháng) or stress 很 with tone.
What are common mistakes with 很 + Adjective Predicates?: The biggest error is using 是 (shì) before adjectives like English 'is': *她是漂亮. Chinese adjectives function as verbs — use 很, not 是. 🇬🇧 English speakers: English requires 'is/are' before adjectives (She IS pretty). Chinese adjectives are stative verbs — 很 replaces 'is'.

Correct ✓

Wrong ✗

Meaning

她很漂亮 tā hěn piàoliang

*她是漂亮

She is pretty

天气很冷 tiānqì hěn lěng

*天气是冷

The weather is cold

中文很难 zhōngwén hěn nán

*中文是难

Chinese is hard

Frequently asked questions

When do you use 很 + Adjective Predicates?

In Chinese, adjectives act as verbs — they do not need 是 (to be). Instead, use 很 (hěn) before the adjective in neutral statements.

How do you form 很 + Adjective Predicates?

Important: 很 in neutral statements does NOT mean 'very' — it is just a structural filler. For real emphasis, use 非常 (fēicháng) or stress 很 with tone.

What are common mistakes with 很 + Adjective Predicates?

The biggest error is using 是 (shì) before adjectives like English 'is': *她是漂亮. Chinese adjectives function as verbs — use 很, not 是. 🇬🇧 English speakers: English requires 'is/are' before adjectives (She IS pretty). Chinese adjectives are stative verbs — 很 replaces 'is'.