HSK1 Grammar: Subject-Predicate Predicate Sentences
1. Grammar Introduction
A Subject-Predicate Predicate sentence (主谓谓语句 zhǔwèi wèiyǔ jù) is a special Chinese sentence pattern where the predicate of the whole sentence is itself a smaller subject-predicate phrase. The sentence has two levels: a big topic (the overall subject) and inside it a smaller subject + predicate describing something about that topic.
Topic + [Inner Subject + Predicate]
Topic = what the sentence is about (often a person or thing)
Inner Subject = a body part, quality, or possession of the topic
Predicate = an adjective or verb describing the inner subject
Example: 我 头疼。
→ I [head aches]. → My head aches. / I have a headache.
Example: 她 眼睛很大。
→ She [eyes very big]. → Her eyes are very big.
Inner Subject = a body part, quality, or possession of the topic
Predicate = an adjective or verb describing the inner subject
Example: 我 头疼。
→ I [head aches]. → My head aches. / I have a headache.
Example: 她 眼睛很大。
→ She [eyes very big]. → Her eyes are very big.
Key points:
- The topic and the inner subject have a whole-part or possessive relationship — the inner subject naturally "belongs to" the topic.
- No verb 是 (shì) is needed.
- 很 (hěn) can be used before adjectives in both SPP sentences and 的 sentences: 她眼睛很大。/ 她的眼睛很大。 — both are correct.
- Very common for describing physical appearance, health, and body sensations.
- The inner subject is usually a body part, attribute, or quality closely associated with the topic.
Comparing Subject-Predicate Predicate sentences vs. sentences with 的 (de):
| Subject-Predicate Predicate (SPP) | Sentence with 的 (de) |
|---|---|
| 她眼睛很大。 Tā yǎnjing hěn dà. Structure: 她 [Topic] → 眼睛很大 [Inner S + P] The whole predicate is a subject-predicate phrase |
她的眼睛很大。 Tā de yǎnjing hěn dà. Structure: 她的眼睛 [Subject] → 很大 [Predicate] 她的眼睛 as a whole is the subject of the sentence |
| 我头很疼。 Wǒ tóu hěn téng. Structure: 我 [Topic] → 头很疼 [Inner S + P] |
我的头很疼。 Wǒ de tóu hěn téng. Structure: 我的头 [Subject] → 很疼 [Predicate] |
| 他工作很忙。 Tā gōngzuò hěn máng. Structure: 他 [Topic] → 工作很忙 [Inner S + P] |
他的工作很忙。 Tā de gōngzuò hěn máng. Structure: 他的工作 [Subject] → 很忙 [Predicate] |
| ✅ Topic is a person/thing ✅ Inner subject (body part / attribute) belongs to the topic ✅ No 的 between topic and inner subject ✅ 很 is used normally before adjectives ✅ The entire predicate = [inner subject + adjective/verb] |
✅ 的 connects the possessor to the noun ✅ The 的 phrase (e.g. 她的眼睛) functions as the whole subject of the sentence ✅ 很 is used normally before adjectives ✅ The predicate = adjective/verb only (e.g. 很大) |
Usage Scenarios:
- Describing body parts (appearance): 她眼睛很大。(Tā yǎnjing hěn dà.) — Her eyes are very big.
- Describing health / physical sensation: 我头疼。(Wǒ tóu téng.) — I have a headache. (疼 is a verb-adjective; 很 optional here)
- Describing someone's work or activity: 他工作很忙。(Tā gōngzuò hěn máng.) — His work is very busy.
- Describing a possession or quality: 妈妈手很小。(Māma shǒu hěn xiǎo.) — Mom's hands are very small.
- Asking about someone's condition: 你身体好吗？(Nǐ shēntǐ hǎo ma?) — How is your health? / Are you feeling well?
- With negation 不 (bù): 我头不疼。(Wǒ tóu bù téng.) — My head doesn't hurt.
2. Example Sentences
Topic: 我
→
Inner Subject: 头
Predicate: 疼
我头疼。
我I (topic)
头head (inner subject)
疼ache / hurt
I have a headache. (lit. I — head aches.)
Topic: 她
→
Inner Subject: 眼睛
Predicate: 很大
她眼睛很大。
她she (topic)
眼睛eyes (inner subject)
很very
大big
Her eyes are very big. (lit. She — eyes very big.)
Topic: 他
→
Inner Subject: 工作
Predicate: 很忙
他工作很忙。
他he (topic)
工作work (inner subject)
很very
忙busy
His work is very busy. (lit. He — work very busy.)
Topic: 妈妈
→
Inner Subject: 手
Predicate: 很小
妈妈手很小。
妈妈mom (topic)
手hand (inner subject)
很very
小small
Mom's hands are very small. (lit. Mom — hands very small.)
Topic: 你
→
Inner Subject: 身体
Predicate: 好吗
你身体好吗？
你you (topic)
身体body / health (inner subject)
好good / well
吗question particle
How is your health? / Are you feeling well?
Topic: 我
→
Inner Subject: 身体
Predicate: 不好
我身体不好。
我I (topic)
身体body / health (inner subject)
不not
好good / well
I am not feeling well. (lit. I — health not good.)
Topic: 爸爸
→
Inner Subject: 腿
Predicate: 很长
爸爸腿很长。
爸爸dad (topic)
腿legs (inner subject)
很very
长long / tall
Dad's legs are very long. (lit. Dad — legs very long.)
Topic: 这个学校
→
Inner Subject: 学生
Predicate: 很多
这个学校学生很多。
这个this (measure)
学校school (topic)
学生students (inner subject)
很very
多many
This school has many students. (lit. This school — students very many.)
的 sentence
compare with Example 2
她的眼睛很大。
她的her (possession)
眼睛eyes
很very
大big
Her eyes are very big. (uses 的 to show possession; 很 required before adjective)
的 sentence
compare with Example 3
他的工作很忙。
他的his (possession)
工作work
很very
忙busy
His work is very busy. (uses 的 to show possession; 很 required before adjective)
3. Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Sentence Ordering
Click the words to form correct sentences.
1. I have a headache.
2. Her eyes are very big. (SPP)
3. Are you feeling well? (How is your health?)
4. Mom's hands are very small.
5. This school has many students.
6. His work is very busy. (use 的)
Exercise 2: English to Chinese Translation
Translate the following sentences into Chinese (use characters).
1. I am not feeling well.
2. Her eyes are very big. (SPP — no 的)
3. His work is very busy. (use 的)
4. Dad's legs are very long.
5. Are you feeling well?
Exercise 3: Listening Practice
Listen to the audio and write what you hear. First 4 questions: Write in Chinese. Last 4 questions: Translate to English.
1. Listen and write in Chinese:
2. Listen and write in Chinese:
3. Listen and write in Chinese:
4. Listen and write in Chinese:
5. Listen and translate to English:
6. Listen and translate to English:
7. Listen and translate to English:
8. Listen and translate to English:
4. Vocabulary List
🏗️ Sentence Patterns (Grammar Focus)
| Pattern | Structure | Example | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| SPP sentence | Topic + [Inner Subject + 很 + Adjective] | 她眼睛很大。(Her eyes are very big.) | |
| 的 sentence | [Topic + 的 + Noun] as Subject + 很 + Adjective | 她的眼睛很大。(Her eyes are very big.) |
🫀 Body Parts
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 头 | tóu | head | |
| 眼睛 | yǎnjing | eyes | |
| 手 | shǒu | hand | |
| 腿 | tuǐ | leg | |
| 身体 | shēntǐ | body / health |
✨ Adjectives
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 疼 | téng | hurt / ache | |
| 大 | dà | big | |
| 小 | xiǎo | small | |
| 忙 | máng | busy | |
| 好 | hǎo | good / well | |
| 长 | cháng | long | |
| 多 | duō | many / much |
🌟 Adverbs
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 很 | hěn | very | |
| 不 | bù | not |
📦 Nouns
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 工作 | gōngzuò | work / job | |
| 学生 | xuésheng | student | |
| 学校 | xuéxiào | school |
👤 Pronouns
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 我 | wǒ | I / me | |
| 你 | nǐ | you | |
| 他 | tā | he / him | |
| 她 | tā | she / her | |
| 这个 | zhège | this (one) | |
| 妈妈 | māma | mom | |
| 爸爸 | bàba | dad |
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid:
❌ Wrong: 她是眼睛很大。(Tā shì yǎnjing hěn dà.) — Inserting 是 in a SPP sentence
✅ Correct: 她眼睛很大。(Tā yǎnjing hěn dà.) — SPP sentences do NOT use 是 (shì)
❌ Wrong: 她的眼睛大。(Tā de yǎnjing dà.) — In a 的 sentence, 很 is required before a standalone adjective
✅ Correct: 她的眼睛很大。(Tā de yǎnjing hěn dà.) — When there’s no “很” before an adjective, it sounds like a comparison.
Key structural difference — both sentences mean the same thing, but are built differently:
• 她眼睛很大。 — 她 is the topic; [眼睛很大] is the whole predicate (a subject-predicate phrase)
• 她的眼睛很大。 — [她的眼睛] is the subject of the whole sentence; [很大] is the predicate
🎉 Great job on completing this lesson!
Practice these sentences daily to master Subject-Predicate Predicate sentences
加油！ (jiā yóu - Keep going!)
