<p>In 不是很黑， 是 is used as a linking verb. In a negative sentence, when we have 很 modify an adjective, 是 should be used. E.g. 他不是很好，她不是很漂亮. Well, 他不很好 and 她不很漂亮 aren't natural.</p>
<p>However, without 很, we don't use 是 in such sentences. E.g. 她不漂亮, not 她不是漂亮. There's also an emphasis 是 and the position of 是 is moved to &quot;before 是&quot;, like 是不 instead of 不是. E.g. 她是不漂亮. 他是不好. etc.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-08-07T15:08:25.203Z
Thanks for the clear explanation!!!
Ron Milich
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-08-06T21:51:37.113Z
2022-08-06T21:51:37.113Z
dan
<p>是 has many different meanings/usages, one of them is semi-equivalent to &quot;be&quot; in English. Just like &quot;be&quot; can be used with adjectives, it's perfectly fine to use 是 with adjectives, e.g., 咖啡是黑色的。</p>
<p>It is true that, especially in the presence of adverbs like 很/有点, 是 is often omitted, E.g., 咖啡很苦。However, even then you can still use 是 for emphasis or concession in an affirmation: 咖啡是很苦。In a negation, using 不是很黑vs不很黑 doesn't have any discernible difference in most contexts.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-08-06T14:44:44.873Z
2022-08-06T14:56:47.957Z
2022-08-06T14:56:47.957Z
EEQ
<p>&quot;很&quot; is an adverb that means &quot;very or too&quot;. Here it modifies the adjective &quot;黑&quot; (dark). You can think of this sentence as saying &quot;现在这个咖啡的颜色好一点了，不是很黑 - &quot;Now the color of the coffee looks a little better, (it) <strong>isn't(不是)</strong> very dark&quot;, <strong>or</strong> &quot;Now the color of the coffee looks a little better, <strong>not(不)</strong> very dark&quot;.</p>
<p>&quot;不是(isn't/not)很黑(very dark)&quot; = &quot;不(not)很黑(ver dark)&quot;. Similarly, 不是太黑 = 不太黑. Here, &quot;是&quot; can be treated as an auxiliary word that has no specific meaning/function, and can be eliminated without changing the meaning of the sentence.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-08-06T14:24:04.617Z
So what is the purpose of 是 in this case?
Ron Milich
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-08-06T17:07:32.330Z
Please see the revision above.
r13
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2022-08-06T12:13:52.367Z
2022-08-06T17:23:29.957Z
2022-08-06T17:23:29.957Z
r13
<p>In my work book I saw the sentence: 现在这个咖啡的颜色好一点，不是很黑</p>
<p>My question is: if 黑 (in 不是很黑) is an adjective, why it is used with 是? should it be 不太黑？</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-08-06T14:05:36.120Z
Why do you think 是 cannot be used with adjectives?
EEQ
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-08-06T14:31:42.057Z
Because you use it to connect 2 nouns:  Noun 1 + 是 + Noun 2.  Is there a rule that states that you can use 是 with adjective?
Ron Milich
<grammar><word-choice>
Can I use 是 with adjective (color)?
# Can I use 是 with adjective (color)?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2022-08-06)

In my work book I saw the sentence: 现在这个咖啡的颜色好一点，不是很黑

My question is: if 黑 (in 不是很黑) is an adjective, why it is used with 是? should it be 不太黑？

**Tags:** grammar, word-choice

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Why do you think 是 cannot be used with adjectives?  
> **username_0**: Because you use it to connect 2 nouns:  Noun 1 + 是 + Noun 2.  Is there a rule that states that you can use 是 with adjective?  

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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2022-08-06. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

In 不是很黑， 是 is used as a linking verb. In a negative sentence, when we have 很 modify an adjective, 是 should be used. E.g. 他不是很好，她不是很漂亮. Well, 他不很好 and 她不很漂亮 aren't natural.

However, without 很, we don't use 是 in such sentences. E.g. 她不漂亮, not 她不是漂亮. There's also an emphasis 是 and the position of 是 is moved to "before 是", like 是不 instead of 不是. E.g. 她是不漂亮. 他是不好. etc.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks for the clear explanation!!!  

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### Answer by username_1 on 2022-08-06. Score: 1

是 has many different meanings/usages, one of them is semi-equivalent to "be" in English. Just like "be" can be used with adjectives, it's perfectly fine to use 是 with adjectives, e.g., 咖啡是黑色的。

It is true that, especially in the presence of adverbs like 很/有点, 是 is often omitted, E.g., 咖啡很苦。However, even then you can still use 是 for emphasis or concession in an affirmation: 咖啡是很苦。In a negation, using 不是很黑vs不很黑 doesn't have any discernible difference in most contexts.


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### Answer by username_3 on 2022-08-06. Score: -1

"很" is an adverb that means "very or too". Here it modifies the adjective "黑" (dark). You can think of this sentence as saying "现在这个咖啡的颜色好一点了，不是很黑 - "Now the color of the coffee looks a little better, (it) **isn't(不是)** very dark", **or** "Now the color of the coffee looks a little better, **not(不)** very dark".

"不是(isn't/not)很黑(very dark)" = "不(not)很黑(ver dark)". Similarly, 不是太黑 = 不太黑. Here, "是" can be treated as an auxiliary word that has no specific meaning/function, and can be eliminated without changing the meaning of the sentence.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: So what is the purpose of 是 in this case?  
> **username_3**: Please see the revision above.  

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