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HSK 1 Grammar: Noun-Predicate Sentences (名词谓语句)
In Mandarin Chinese, a noun or noun phrase can serve directly as the predicate of a sentence without a linking verb like 是 (shì). Known in the HSK 1 syllabus as 名词谓语句 (míngcí wèiyǔ jù), this pattern is commonly used in spoken Chinese to state time, dates, days of the week, age, prices, and native origin.
今天星期三。
The time word 今天 (jīntiān) is the subject, and the noun 星期三 (xīngqīsān) acts directly as the predicate without a verb.
× 他医生。
Incorrect in a normal statement of profession. Unlike age, date, or price, occupational nouns like 医生 (yīshēng) cannot normally act as a bare nominal predicate; use 他是医生 (tā shì yīshēng) instead.
Corrected example: 他是医生。
Read the full explanation and examples
1. What Is a Noun-Predicate Sentence (名词谓语句)?
In the official HSK 1 grammar outline, simple subject-predicate sentences (主谓句) are divided into three main types according to what serves as the predicate. Alongside verb-predicate sentences and adjective-predicate sentences, the third category is the noun-predicate sentence, called 名词谓语句 (míngcí wèiyǔ jù).
In English, connecting a subject to a noun phrase almost always requires a form of the verb to be, such as in 'Today is Wednesday' or 'This book is twenty yuan.' In Mandarin, however, a noun, numeral-measure phrase, or time phrase can follow the subject directly to function as the predicate. No verb is needed in affirmative statements for specific semantic categories.
2. Core Uses at HSK 1 Level
You cannot drop the verb in just any Chinese sentence with two nouns. At the beginner level, noun-predicate sentences are mainly restricted to four practical domains: days and dates, age, price or quantity, and native place or origin.
- Days of the week and calendar dates: A time noun like 今天 (jīntiān, today) or 明天 (míngtiān, tomorrow) serves as the subject, followed directly by the day or date.
- Age: A person or pronoun is the subject, followed by a numeral plus the measure word for years of age, 岁 (suì). Time words like 今年 (jīnnián, this year) often appear before the age.
- Price: An item serves as the subject, and a numeral-measure phrase expressing money—such as 块 (kuài)—acts as the predicate.
- Native origin: In spoken Chinese, a person's hometown or regional identity—typically a place name plus 人 (rén)—can follow the subject directly.
今天星期三。
The time word 今天 (jīntiān) is the subject, and the noun 星期三 (xīngqīsān) acts directly as the predicate without a verb.
明天八月五号。
Calendar dates commonly serve as nominal predicates right after time subjects.
我儿子今年八岁。
The numeral-measure phrase 八岁 (bā suì) states age directly without 是 (shì).
这本书二十块。
The price phrase 二十块 (èrshí kuài) functions directly as the predicate describing the cost of the book.
王老师北京人。
In conversational Chinese, a place name plus 人 (rén) can serve directly as a nominal predicate to state native origin.
3. Asking Questions with Nominal Predicates
When asking about the date, day, age, or price, Chinese keeps the exact same word order as the statement. You simply place an interrogative noun phrase—built with question words like 几 (jǐ, how many / which number) or 多少 (duōshao, how much)—directly into the predicate slot.
今天几号？
The question phrase 几号 (jǐ hào) occupies the same nominal predicate position as the answer.
这个杯子多少钱？
The interrogative noun phrase 多少钱 (duōshao qián) serves directly as the predicate.
Notice that in both questions above, there is no verb. The question phrase 几号 (jǐ hào, what date) or 多少钱 (duōshao qián, how much money) functions directly as the predicate, and the listener replies by putting the specific number or date in that same position.
4. Negation and Contrast with 是 (shì) Sentences
To deny the nominal identifications shown here, put 不是 (bú shì) before the noun phrase: 今天不是星期五 denies that today is Friday. Bare 不 does not replace 不是 in this pattern. This is not a universal rule for every expression involving a number: saying that an age or price is below a threshold uses a different construction, such as 不到八岁 (not yet eight). With 是 as its predicate verb, the resulting negative sentence is a verb-predicate sentence.
今天不是星期五。
To deny that today is Friday, use 今天不是星期五. Bare 不 does not form the ordinary negative of this nominal identification.
Learners should also be careful not to overgeneralize the omission of 是 (shì). For dates, days, and hometowns, adding 是 (shì) in affirmative sentences is also grammatical—usually adding slight emphasis or formality. However, for general classification, naming objects, or stating someone's profession or relationship, 是 (shì) is normally required in standard neutral statements.
他是医生。
Stating a profession in a normal, neutral sentence requires the linking verb 是 (shì).
× 他医生。
Incorrect in a normal statement of profession. Unlike age, date, or price, occupational nouns like 医生 (yīshēng) cannot normally act as a bare nominal predicate; use 他是医生 (tā shì yīshēng) instead.
Corrected example: 他是医生。
Frequently asked questions
Is it wrong to add 是 (shì) when talking about days, dates, or hometowns?
No, it is not wrong. For days, dates, and hometowns, adding 是 (shì) is also grammatical and simply turns the sentence into a verb-predicate sentence, often sounding slightly more emphatic or formal. However, for ages with 岁 (suì), native speakers normally use the noun-predicate pattern without 是 (shì) in affirmative statements.
Why can't I negate a noun-predicate sentence with just 不 (bù)?
For the direct identifications in this lesson, 是 supplies the predicate that 不 negates: 今天不是星期五. Bare 不 does not form the ordinary negative here. Other meanings need other constructions; for example, 不到八岁 means not yet eight, rather than simply not eight.
How does a noun-predicate sentence differ from other subject-predicate sentences at HSK 1?
The HSK 1 outline lists three subject-predicate sentence types based on the core word in the predicate: verb-predicate sentences use an action or linking verb, adjective-predicate sentences use a descriptive adjective (often with 很, hěn), and noun-predicate sentences use a noun or numeral-measure phrase directly.
