You must note, as well, that whenever adjectives follow subjects directly, they imply comparison. 地图大, strictly speaking, does not mean "the map is big," but "the map is bigger (than something else)." The sentence 地图大 might be the answer to a question like 桌子大还是地图大 "Which is bigger, the table or the map?" The normal way to say "the map is big," without implying comparison, is to add an unstressed 很 before the adjective: 地图很大 "the map is big." If you stress the 很, then you have said "the map is very big." (This rules does not apply if the adjective is negated. 地图不大 means "the map is not big," without implying comparison.) From Oh, China! An Elementary Reader of Modern Chinese for Advanced Beginners , 第一课：两张地图