Sentences with a nominal predicate
A 名词谓语句 (míngcí wèiyǔ jù) is a sentence whose predicate consists only of a noun or a noun phrase.
In such sentences the predicate usually expresses:
a time;
a date;
an age;
a year.
Basic structure
Subject + noun / noun phrase
In Chinese:
主语 + 名词 / 名词性成分
That is, no separate verb is used as the predicate.
今天几号？
What is today's date?
Structure
今天 + 几号？
today + what date?
今天today
几号what date
Here 几号 is a noun phrase serving as the predicate of the sentence.
今天5月1号。
Today is May 1st.
Structure
今天 + 5月1号
today + May 1st
今天today
5月1号May 1st
Here 5月1号 is a noun phrase naming a date and serving as the predicate.
我妹妹12岁。
My younger sister is 12.
Structure
我妹妹 + 12岁
my younger sister + 12 years old
我妹妹my younger sister
12岁12 years old
Here 12岁 is a noun phrase naming an age and serving as the predicate.
The rule in short
Subject + time / date / age / year
Meaning:
in Chinese a time, a date or an age is sometimes expressed as the predicate directly by a noun phrase, with no verb.
Examples:
今天几号？
What is today's date?
今天5月1号。
Today is May 1st.
我妹妹12岁。
My younger sister is 12.