[Subject] + [Predicate],
as the two basic components.
We also say subject first, then predicate. For example, if we want to say “I love you.”, in Chinese the order of words is the same.
Definition of predicate: one of the two main constituents of a sentence; the predicate contains the verb and its complements.
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move on
I is the subject,
you is the object,
in English, love you is the predicate, there is no exact translation for the term predicate in Chinese vocalbulary.
In Chinese, love is called Weiyu, there is no specific one word translation in English for this term.
Sounds complicated, we will repeat this part so that you are used to the idea.
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move on
What about a more complex sentence?
For example, [I will finish my homework after dinner.]
In this sentence, the bone structure is [I finish homework.], I is the subject, finish is the [Weiyu], and homework is the object. In the future, we need to be able to find the bone structure immediately when we see a sentence.
So what elements are other words?
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let’s find out
I is the subject,
finish is the Weiyu (predicate verb), [will] modifies the verb finish, [after dinner] also does the same work, they are called modiers, more specifically adverbial modidiers, just like adverbs.
Please remember this term: “adverbial modifier”, in Chinese they are called [Zhuangyu]. There are many Zhuangyu in our words, both English and Chinese, they defines the time, location, etc. We will explain in details later.
What about the word [my]?
[my] modifies the object homework, so it is also a modifier. We call it objective modifier, in Chinese we call it [Dingyu].
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another example
The subject is obviously [dress], the predicate is [costs 120 Yuan].
[The beautiful] modifies the subject, in English it is called subjective modifier. In Chinese it is also [Dingyu].
So [Dingyu] includes subjective modifier and objective modifier; All adjectives are Dingyu.
while [Zhuangyu] equals adverbial modifiers. All adverbs are Zhuangyu.
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explain about complement
One example:
This kind of material has been made of great value.
>> [Great value] is a complement of the subject.
Another example:
The boy runs really fast.
[really fast] is a complement, at least in Chinese it is.
You will see some examples later on. Please keep on mind that Chinese definitions of these words may vary from their English definitions.
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test
In this sentence
[I really cannot afford this house.], what do we call the word [this]?
It is a Dingyu
objective modifier
adverbial modifier
It is Zhuangyu
In this sentence
[Can you help me with these works after you get here?],
what do we call [after you get here]?
It is a complement
objective modifier
adverbial modifier
It is predicate
clauses
In English, there are various forms of clauses, some modifies the subject/object just like an adjective, some modifies the verbs like an adverb, while there are some clauses function as a complement. As a native English speaker, you may not know about these terms. I am a foreigner, we learned these stuff in school and they helped us to learn your language.
[Can you do me a favor since you have arrived?],
[since you have arrived] is a typical adverbial clause, it defines a condition for the predicate [do a favor]. We call it a clause because it is an independent sentence with a typical structure subject(you) + verb(arrive).
[Whether you finish it or not does not really matter.],
[whether you finish it or not] is a clause functions as the object. It is also an independent sentence with a typical structure subject(you) + verb(finish).
- In English we have some words [that/which/when/which/where…] leading a caluse, in Chinese we do not have those words, we add a word [de] after the clause if it is a modifier, between its modifying object and the clause, to indicate such relationship.
- In Chinese we always say a clause first, then its modifying objects. And again, there is a word [de] between them in most cases.
[Why do you go to China if you do not know anyone there?], in this sentence [if you do not know anyone there] is an adverbial clause, similar to an adverb. We need to put it ahead of the predicate [go to China]. So the question will be like this
[You if do not know anyone in China why go to there?]
why is another adverbial modifier for the predicate [go to China].
And yes we need to say China first, then people will know what there indicates. It is not really a grammar issue, it’s more about logic.
We all know what Subject, Object is, but you may be unclear about Predicate. In the sentence example below, which is the predicate?
I love you.
In the following sentence, which part is the adverbial modifier?
We can do this now, when it is not too late.
[now] and [when it is not too late].
Before we translate, we need to rebuild the sentence like this
[Now, when it is not too late, we can do this.] or
[We now when it is not too late can do this. ]
Again, modifiers are ahead of their modifying objects.
How do you want to do it?
Choice 1: You want how do it?
Choice 2: How you want do it?
Choice 3: You how want do it?
Note that the word [to] linking two verbs does not get translated.
[The movie will be shown until next month.]
How would you rebuild the sentence?
1. Until next month the movie will be shown.
2. The movie until next month will be shown.
3. The movie will until next month be shown.
[The movie will be shown until next month.]
1. Until next month the movie will be shown.
2. The movie until next month will be shown.
3. The movie will until next month be shown.
Why is 3 wrong? Actually it is just a big mistake because [until next month] and [will] are both adverbial modifiers, and they are both ahead of the predicate. It’s just, as a tradition, we tend to say [until next month] specifying a time first, then say [will]. Again, it’s more about logic.
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There are no specific rules about when to transform an adverbial modifier into a complement in Chinese. Typically in this kind of context: [He runs fast.][He did it very well.][You came too early.][She is so pretty.]….Just send us your practices and we will explain to you how to do it right. Like in English, most clauses are led by words like [that][which][when]…In Chinese, most complements are led by a word de.
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