Adjectival Verb

Mandarin adjectival verbs, unlike English, are not preceded by a linking verb such as the verb 是 （be）

Examples:

· 他高 NOT 他是高

· 那本书贵 NOT那本书是贵

· 那个学校大 NOT那个学校是大

 

Negation fo adjectival verb

Adjectival berbs are negated by 不. They are never negated by 没.

· 他不高 NOT他没高

· 那本书不贵 NOT那本书没贵

· 那个学校不大 NOT那个学校没大

 

Yes-no questions with adjectival verbs

Adjectival verbs can occur in yes-no questions formed by 吗 or the verb-not-verb structure.

Examples:

· 那个学校大吗？

· 那个学校大不大？

· 这个人好吗？

· 这个人好不好？

 

Modification by intensifiers

Adjectival verbs can be modified by intensifiers. Most intensifiers precede the adjectival verb.

· 很 very

· 真 really

· 比较 rather

· 相当 quite

· 特别 especially

· 非常 extremely

· 尤其 especially

· 极其 extremely

· 太 too

· 更 more

· 最 most

Some intensifiers follow the adjectival verbs

· 得很 very 好得很

· 极了 terrific 好极了

· 得不得了 terrific 好得不得了

 

Two syllable preference

Adjectival verbs generally occur in two syllable phrases. In affirmative form, when no special emphasis is intended, one syllable adjectival verbs are usually preceded by 很。When negated, 不 provides the second syllable.

Examples:

· 他很高

· 他不高

· 那本书很贵

· 那本书不贵

 

Superlative meaning

Adjectival verbs do not have a distinct superlative forms. To express the superlative meaning, precede the adjectival verb with the intensifier 最

· 他最高 he is the tallest

· 那本书最贵 that book is the most expensive

 

Linking adjectival verb

The adverb 又can be used to link adjectival verbs as follows. The structure is 又…又…, meaning ‘both…and…’

Example:

· 那个男的又高又大 That guy is both big and tall

· 那双鞋子很好，又便宜又舒服。 That pair of shoes is really good, they are both cheap and comfortable.