A clause as the subject: 身体健康很重要, 他不去也可以
【四34】主语 / sentence components
Tone colorsā tone 1á tone 2ǎ tone 3à tone 4a neutral
In Chinese, a whole clause (subject + predicate) can be the subject of another sentence. The main predicate then comments on that clause: 身体健康很重要 ("being healthy is important"), 他不去也可以 ("it's fine if he doesn't go").
There is no 的 and no conjunction: you do not turn the clause into a noun phrase (✗ 他不去的也可以) and you do not add 因为 or 如果. English says "that…", "for him to…" or an -ing form.
The comment is most often a judgement (重要, 难, 麻烦), 可以 or 没关系, a consequence (让大家很高兴), or 是 + purpose (我参加考试是为了…). To spot the break: [他不去] [也可以], [借书的人数下降] [不等于大家不读书]. It is very common, in speech and in writing.
Examples
身体健康很重要。
Shēntǐ jiànkāng hěn zhòngyào.Being healthy is very important.
他不来也可以。
Tā bù lái yě kěyǐ.It's fine if he doesn't come.
你每天睡得太晚对身体不好。
Nǐ měi tiān shuì de tài wǎn duì shēntǐ bù hǎo.Going to bed too late every day is bad for your health.
大家都爱看书让老师很高兴。
Dàjiā dōu ài kàn shū ràng lǎoshī hěn gāoxìng.That everyone loves reading makes the teacher very happy.
学生用手机看书也可以。
Xuéshēng yòng shǒujī kàn shū yě kěyǐ.It is fine for students to read on their phones too.
我参加这次考试是为了找一个好工作。
Wǒ cānjiā zhè cì kǎoshì shì wèile zhǎo yí ge hǎo gōngzuò.The reason I'm taking this exam is to find a good job.
Common mistakes
✗ 他不去的也可以。 → ✓ 他不去也可以。 (do not turn the clause into a noun phrase with 的).
✗ 因为他迟到让大家很生气。 → ✓ 他迟到让大家很生气。 (the clause is the subject, with no 因为).