Nominal Predicate Sentences
主谓句3：名词谓语句
Form sentences where a noun or noun phrase serves as the predicate without 是
The subject is directly followed by a noun or noun phrase that acts as the predicate. No 是 is needed. These sentences typically describe dates, weather, age, price, origin, or other identifying features.
This pattern is limited to certain contexts: time, dates, weather, age, origin, and prices. You cannot randomly drop 是 from any sentence — only these specific types work without it.
Lesson Targets
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Podcast: Nominal Predicate Sentences (主谓句3：名词谓语句)
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Understanding 主谓句3：名词谓语句
In Chinese, some sentences are complete without any verb at all — not even 是. These are called nominal predicate sentences. The noun phrase after the subject directly states what the subject is or describes it. The most common contexts are: weather (明天阴天 — Tomorrow will be overcast), time (现在八点三十分 — It is now 8:30), age (他今年二十岁 — He is twenty this year), origin (他中国人 — He is Chinese), and prices (这本书三十块钱 — This book is thirty yuan). These sentences feel natural and concise in Chinese. Adding 是 in these cases is not wrong, but it sounds heavier and more formal. Think of nominal predicate sentences as Chinese being efficient — why use a verb when the meaning is already clear?
Key Points
- Weather: 今天晴天 (Today is sunny) — no need for 是.
- Dates and days: 今天星期三 (Today is Wednesday) — clean and direct.
- Time: 现在八点三十分 (It is now 8:30) — verb-free.
- Age: 他今年二十岁 (He is twenty this year) — simple and natural.
- Origin or identity: 他北京人 (He is a Beijinger) — very colloquial.
- Prices: 这件衣服两百块钱 (This clothing costs 200 yuan) — direct and efficient.
- Adding 是 is grammatically correct but sounds more formal or emphatic.
- Negative form requires 不是: 今天不是星期三 — you must add 是 back for negation.
Nominal predicate sentences reflect the Chinese language preference for economy and directness. In casual conversation, the less filler, the better. This conciseness is valued — it shows you speak naturally and efficiently, like a native speaker.
Key Vocabulary
Example Sentences
明天阴天。
Tomorrow will be overcast.
Weather — no verb needed
他中国人。
He is Chinese.
Origin — colloquial, no 是
现在八点三十分。
It is now 8:30.
今天星期五。
Today is Friday.
她今年十八岁。
She is eighteen this year.
这本书三十块钱。
This book costs thirty yuan.
今天三月二十六号。
Today is March 26th.
昨天晴天，今天多云。
Yesterday was sunny; today is cloudy.
Common Mistakes
In the negative form, you must add 是 back: 不是 + noun. You cannot simply negate a noun with 不.
For age, the nominal predicate is more natural. Adding 是 sounds unnatural — just state the age directly.
Practice Exercises
Tips & Tricks
Nominal predicate sentences work for a limited set of topics: weather, time, dates, age, origin, prices.
When in doubt, you can always add 是 — it is not wrong, just slightly more formal.
Remember: negation always requires 不是 — you cannot just put 不 before a noun.
Practice by stating the date, time, and weather every morning without using 是.
Homework
Write a short daily journal entry using only nominal predicate sentences: the date, day of the week, time you woke up, the weather, and the price of your lunch. No 是 allowed!