Kilo Lingo

Mandarin · Chapter 2 · Lesson 6 · Common mistake

是 or 很?

I am cold is 我很冷, never 我是冷. This one trips up everybody.

The rule

Mandarin adjectives are really verbs already, so they do NOT take 是. 我冷 is grammatical on its own, and what you actually say is 我很冷. 是 is for linking two NOUNS: 我是学生. Putting 是 before an adjective is the commonest beginner error there is.

Pick the right one

0/6

Pick the right one: 是 or 很.

  1. 我好。 (I am well)

    wǒ ___ hǎo 。 (I am well)

  2. 他我的先生。 (he is my husband)

    tā ___ wǒ de xiān shēng 。 (he is my husband)

  3. 你快。 (you are quick)

    nǐ ___ kuài 。 (you are quick)

  4. 那我的东西。 (that is my thing)

    nà ___ wǒ de dōng xī 。 (that is my thing)

  5. 这个好。 (this one is good)

    zhè gè ___ hǎo 。 (this one is good)

  6. 那什么？ (what is that?)

    nà ___ shén me ？ (what is that?)

This gets a lesson of its own in chapter 5, where it is covered properly. This drill is the shape of it.

Read ahead: the full lesson