1.2 The Verb 係 hai6
The verb 係 hai6 means ‘to be’. We form a sentence with 係 hai6 using the sentence structure below.
Subject
(Noun Phrase)
(Noun Phrase)
係
hai6
hai6
Subject Complement
(Noun Phrase)
(Noun Phrase)
A subject complement indicates the identity of the subject or describes the subject. We generally use a noun phrase as the subject complement after 係 hai6. Note that a personal pronoun or a name can be a noun phrase on its own.
He is Fung [a male name].The subject complement 阿峰 aa3 fung1 indicates the identity of the subject 佢 keoi5. He / She is a Hong Konger.
The subject complement 香港人 hoeng1 gong2 jan4 describes the subject 佢 keoi5.