Nominal Predicates
名词、代词、数词或数量短语、名词性短语作谓语
Use nouns, pronouns, numbers, and noun phrases directly as predicates without 是
In certain contexts, a noun, pronoun, number, or noun phrase can serve directly as the predicate without the verb 是. This is common for dates, weather, age, price, and similar factual statements.
Nominal predicates are typically short, factual sentences. They sound natural for time, weather, age, origin, and price — but not for general identification (for that you still need 是).
Lesson Targets
Podcast
Podcast: Nominal Predicates (名词、代词、数词或数量短语、名词性短语作谓语)
Listen to Jason & Amy explain the 名词、代词、数词或数量短语、名词性短语作谓语 pattern
New here?
Understanding 名词、代词、数词或数量短语、名词性短语作谓语
In English, every sentence needs a verb — you say "Today IS sunny" with the linking verb "is." But Chinese is more flexible. In certain everyday situations, you can drop 是 entirely and let a noun do the work of the predicate. 今天晴天 (Today — sunny day) is a complete sentence meaning "It is sunny today." 明天星期五 (Tomorrow — Friday) means "Tomorrow is Friday." 他四十 (He — forty) means "He is forty years old." This works because the context is so clear that 是 becomes unnecessary. You will encounter nominal predicates in weather reports, calendar talk, age statements, and price discussions. They make Chinese sound efficient and natural — once you get comfortable with them, you will wonder why English insists on "is" everywhere.
Key Points
- Weather: 今天晴天 (It is sunny today) — no 是 needed.
- Days/Dates: 明天星期五 (Tomorrow is Friday) — no 是 needed.
- Age: 他四十 (He is forty) — just subject + number.
- Price: 这本书二十五块 (This book is 25 yuan) — number directly as predicate.
- Origin/Location: 她北京人 (She is from Beijing) — noun phrase as predicate.
- These sentences are typically short and factual.
- You CAN add 是 and it would still be correct, but the nominal predicate form is more natural and colloquial.
- Do not overuse this pattern — it works for specific categories (time, weather, age, price, origin) but not for general statements.
Chinese prioritizes efficiency in daily speech. Dropping unnecessary words like 是 in obvious contexts is not lazy — it is natural and even elegant. Weather forecasts, price tags, and age discussions almost always use nominal predicates.
Key Vocabulary
Example Sentences
今天晴天。
It is sunny today.
Weather — no 是
明天星期五。
Tomorrow is Friday.
Day of week — no 是
他四十，女儿十六。
He is forty; his daughter is sixteen.
Age — just numbers
这本中文书二十五块。
This Chinese book is 25 yuan.
Price — number as predicate
今天十二月二十号。
Today is December 20th.
她北京人。
She is from Beijing.
Origin — noun phrase as predicate
现在几点？——三点半。
What time is it now? — Half past three.
这儿怎么样？
How is this place?
Pronoun as predicate in a question
Common Mistakes
For weather statements, the nominal predicate is more natural. Adding 是 is not wrong but sounds less native. The 了 is also unnecessary here.
For age, the nominal predicate is standard. Just say the number — 是 is unnecessary and 岁 can even be omitted in casual speech.
Practice Exercises
Tips & Tricks
Nominal predicates work best for: weather, dates, days, time, age, price, and origin.
When in doubt about whether to drop 是, ask: "Is this a simple fact about time, weather, age, or price?" If yes, drop 是.
Listen to weather forecasts in Chinese — they are full of nominal predicates: 今天晴天，明天多云.
Practice with age: 我爸爸五十二，我妈妈四十九 — no 是, no 岁 needed.
Homework
Write a mini weather report for the week and a family introduction. The weather report should cover seven days using nominal predicates. The family introduction should state each person's age using nominal predicates.