HSK Guide/HSK 3 Grammar

Parts of Speech These following grammar points fit pretty neatly into one part of speech category. Adjectives Grammar Point (English)PatternExamplesAdjectives with "-ji le"Adj. + 极了这个 主意 好 极了 。 This is a very good idea.Reduplication of adjectivesAdj. + Adj.你 应该 慢慢 地 走。 You should walk slowly.Turning adjectives into adverbsAdj. + 地 + Verb你 要 认真 地 学习。 You should study seriously. Adverbs Grammar Point (English)PatternExamplesExpressing "again" in the past with "you"又 + Verb + 了你 又 迟到 了 。 You are late again.Expressing "all along" with "yizhi"Subj. + 一直 + Predicate我 一直 在 现在 的 公司 工作。 I'm still working at my current company all along.Expressing "always" with "zongshi"总是 + Verb他 总是 迟到。 He is always late.Expressing duration of inactionDuration + 没 + Verb + 了他 已经 一 个 星期 没 洗澡 了 。 It's been 1 week and he still hasn't bathed yet.Expressing "finally" with "zhongyu"Subj. + 终于 + Predicate + 了你 终于 到 了 。 You are finally here.Expressing lateness with "cai"Subj. + Time + 才 + Verb他 二十五 岁 才 上 大学 。 He only entered university at 25 years old.Expressing "nearly" with "jihu"Subj. + 几乎 + Verb他 的 头发 几乎 全 白 了 。 His hair is almost all white.Expressing "only" with "zhi"只 + Verb我 只 有 一个 妹妹。 I only have a younger sister.Sequencing with "xian" and "zai"先⋯⋯ ，再⋯⋯先 洗 手 ，再 吃饭 。 Wash hands first before eating.Simultaneous tasks with "yibian"一边 + Verb 1 (，) 一边 + Verb 2不要 一边 说话 ，一边 吃 东西。 Don't talk while you're eating.Using "always" as a complaint with "laoshi"Subj. + 老 (是 ) + Verb你 怎么 老是 加班 ？ How are you always still working overtime?Using "cai" for small numbers才 + Number + Measure Word + Noun这 个 班 才 两 个 学生 。 There are only 2 students in this class. Adverbs with Adjectives Grammar Point (English)PatternExamplesAdjectives with "name" and "zheme"那么 / 这么 + Adj.你 怎么 那么 忙 ？ Why are you always this busy?Basic comparisons with "yiyang"Noun 1 + 跟 / 和 + Noun 2 + 一样 + Adj.你 跟 他 一样 高 。 You are as tall as him.Expressing "both A and B" with "you"又⋯⋯ 又⋯⋯他 又 高 又 帅。 He is both tall and handsome.Expressing "rather" with "bijiao"Subj. + 比较 + Adj.这个 问题 比较 简单 。 This question is more simpler.Intensifying with "duo"Subj. + 多 + Adj.多 好！外面 多 舒服！ So good! It's so comfortable outside!Modifying nouns with adjective + "de"Adj. + 的 + Noun好喝 的 啤酒 / 可爱 的 宝宝 Yummy beer / Cute baby Conjunctions Grammar Point (English)PatternExamplesExpressing "or" in statements⋯⋯或者⋯⋯我 想 去 青岛 或者 南京。 I want to go to Qingdao or Nanking.Expressing "then…" with "name"那么⋯⋯他 不 听 ，那 我 应该 怎么办 ？ He doesn't listen, so what should I do?Expressing "with" with "gen"跟⋯⋯ + Verb你 要 跟 我 一起 去 吗？ Do you want to go with me?Offering choices with "haishi"A + 还是 + B ?你 要 喝 茶 还是 咖啡 ? Do you want to drink tea or coffee? Nouns Grammar Point (English)PatternExamplesBefore a specific time with "yiqian"Time / Verb + 以前十 点 以前，我 在 家。 I'm at home before 10.Expressing "before" in general with "yiqian"以前，⋯⋯以前，我 不 会 说 中文。 I didn't know how to speak Chinese in the past.Expressing "just now" with "gangcai"刚才 + Verb你 刚才 说 什么 了？ What did you just say?Expressing "when" with "shi"Time + 时考试 时 不要 说话 。 Don't talk during the exam.In the future in general with "yihou"以后，⋯⋯以后，你 不要 问 我。 Don't ask me next time.Sequencing past events with "houlai"⋯⋯ ，后来 ⋯⋯开始 他 不 同意， 但 后来 同意了。 At first he didn't agree, but later he agreed. Numbers Grammar Point (English)PatternExamplesApproximating with sequential numbersNumber 1 + Number 2三 四个 人。一 两 天。 3 or 4 people. 1 or 2 days.Big numbers in ChineseNumber + 万 / 亿五 万 50, 000Structure of times (advanced)Number 1 + 点(钟) + Number 2 + 分现在 十一点十八分 。 It's now 11:18.Structure of times (basic)Number + 点(钟)现在 十一点 。 It's now 11 o' clock. Particles Grammar Point (English)PatternExamplesAspect particle "zhe"Verb + 着我 读 ，你 听 着 。 I read, you listen.Change of state with "le"⋯⋯了我 25 岁 了。 I'm 25 years old already.Questions with "ne"⋯⋯呢 ?我 很 好。你 呢 ? I'm fine. And you?Structural particle "de"的 / 得 / 地红色的车，跑得很快，慢慢地走 A red car, runs very fast, walks slowly Prepositions Grammar Point (English)PatternExamplesExpressing "about" with "guanyu"关于 + Obj. ，⋯⋯关于 中国 历史 ，我 知道 的 不 多 。 I don't know much about Chinese history.Expressing "all the way until" with "zhidao"直到 + Time / Event ，Subj. + 才 ⋯⋯直到 十二 点 半 ，我 才 做 完 作业 。 I only completed my homework until 12:30.Expressing "towards" with "xiang"向 + Direction / Person + Verb你 必须 向 他 道歉！ You must apologize to him! Verbs Grammar Point (English)PatternExamplesAppearance with "kanqilai"看起来⋯⋯这 家 餐厅 看起来 不错 。 This restaurant looks good.Basic comparisons with "meiyou"Noun 1 + 没(有) + Noun 2 + Adj.你 没有 我 胖 。 You aren't as fat as me.Causative verbsSubj. + 让 / 叫 / 请 / 使 + Person + Predicate你 为什么 不 让 我 去 ？ Why won't you let me go?Expressing "through" with "jingguo"经过 + Event / Time ，⋯⋯经过 自己 的 努力 ，她 考上 了 北京 大学 。 She got into Beijing University thanks to her own efforts. Auxiliary verbs Grammar Point (English)PatternExamplesExpressing "should" with "yinggai"应该 / 该 + Verb你 应该 工作。 You should work. Verb phrases Grammar Point (English)PatternExamplesExpressing "difficult" with "nan"难 + Verb难 做。难 买。 Tough to do. Hard to buy.Expressing duration with "le"Verb + 了 + Duration他 在 北京 住 了 两 年。 He lived in Beijing for 2 years.Expressing ongoing duration with double "le"Verb + 了 + Duration + 了他 在 北京 住 了 两 年 了。 It's been 2 years that he lives in Beijing.Inability with "mei banfa"没办法 + Verb我 没 办法 帮 你。 I can't help you.Reduplication of verbsVerb + Verb你 看看。 You look at this.Special verbs with "hen"很 + Verb我 很 喜欢 他。 I like him very much. Grammatical Structures These are grammatical structures that do not correspond to one particular part of speech. Complements Grammar Point (English)PatternExamplesDirection complementVerb (+ Direction) + 来 / 去我们 走 过去 吧 。 Let's walk over there.Potential complementVerb + 得 / 不 + Complement做 得 完 / 做 不 完 Can finish / cannot finishResult complementsVerb + 好 / 完 / 错我们 吃 好 了 。 We're finished eating.Result complement "-xiaqu"Verb + 下去这个 故事 太 无聊 了 ，我 听 不 下去 了 。 This story is too boring, I can't keep on listening to it. Conditional Statements Grammar Point (English)PatternExamplesExpressing "as long as" with "zhiyao"只要⋯⋯，就⋯⋯只要 你 过来 ， 我们 就 很 开心 。 We will be happy as long as you come over here.Expressing "only after" with "cai"⋯⋯，才⋯⋯那 本 书 我 看 了 两 遍 才 看 懂。 I only read that book 2 times to understand it.Expressing "only if" with "zhiyou"只有⋯⋯，才⋯⋯只有 你 帮忙 ， 我 才 能 完成 任务 。 I can only finish the task if you help. Noun Phrases Grammar Point (English)PatternExamplesUsing "youde" to mean "some"有的 + Noun派对的时候，有的人在喝酒，有的人在跳舞，还有的人在聊天。 During parties, some people are drinking booze, some people are dancing, and even some people are chatting. Numbers and Measure Words Grammar Point (English)PatternExamplesExpressing "half" with "ban"Number + Measure Word + 半 + Noun三 个 半 小时 3 and a half hour Sentence Patterns Grammar Point (English)PatternExamplesExpressing "not even one"一 + Measure Word + (Noun) + 也 / 都 + 不 / 没 + Verb一 句 中文 都 不 会 说 。 Can't even speak 1 Chinese sentence.Expressing "the more... the more..." with "yue… yue…"Subj.＋越＋Verb＋越 + Adj. / Verb她 越 想 越 生气 。 The more she thought about it, the more she got angry.Using "ba" sentencesSubj. + 把 + Obj.+ Verb Phrase我 把 书 看 完 了。 I finished reading the book.Using "bei" sentencesSubj. + 被 + Doer + Verb Phrase我 被 他 骗 了 。 I got cheated by him. Basic/Simple Sentence Patterns Grammar Point (English)PatternExamplesAlternative existential sentencesPlace + Verb + 着 + Noun Phrase桌子 上 放 着 一 本 书 。 There is a book placed on the table.Expressing "as one likes" with "jiu"想 + Question Word + 就 + Question Word想 去 哪儿 就 去 哪儿 。 Go wherever you want to go.Expressing "every" with question wordsQuestion Word + 都 + Predicate谁 都 可以 进 。 Anyone can enter,Expressing "more and more" with "yuelaiyue"Subj. + 越来越 + Adj. + 了天气 越来越 冷 了。 The weather is getting cold.Expressing purpose with "weile"为了 + Purpose + Verb为了 钱 ，他 什么 都 愿意 做 。 He is willing to do anything for money.Expressing "some" with question words在哪儿 / 谁 / 什么 / 什么时候这个 人 我 在 哪儿 见 过 。 I think I so this person somewhere. Comparison Patterns Grammar Point (English)PatternExamplesExpressing comparable degree with "you"Noun 1 有 Noun 2 + Adj. + 吗？他 有 我 帅 吗 ？ Is he more handsome than me?Expressing "compared with" using "gen"跟 + Noun 1 + 比 (起来) ，Noun 2⋯⋯跟 上海 比 ，北京 的 冬天 比较 干 。 Beijing's winter is dryer compared to Shanghai.Expressing "even more" with "geng" or "hai"Noun 1 + 比 + Noun 2 + 更 / 还 + Adj.他 比 姚明 还 高 。 He is taller than Yaoming.Expressing "much more" in comparisonsNoun 1 + 比 + Noun 2 + Adj. + 多了拼音 比 汉字 容易 多了 。 Pinyin is easier than Chinese characters. Complex Sentence Patterns Grammar Point (English)PatternExamplesExpressing "except" and "in addition" with "chule… yiwai"除了 ⋯⋯ (+ 以外) ，Subj. + 都 / 也 / 还 ⋯⋯除了 他 ，我们 都 去 过 。 We all went there except for him.Expressing "if... then..." with "ruguo... jiu..."如果 ⋯⋯ ，就 ⋯⋯如果 有 困难 ，就 给 我 打 电话 。 If you have any difficulties, call me.Expressing "if" with "ruguo... dehua"如果⋯⋯ (的话) ，(就) ⋯⋯如果 明天 下雨 的话 ，我们 就 不 去 了 。 We won't be going if it rains tomorrow.Expressing "not only... but also" with "budan... erqie..."不但⋯⋯，而且⋯⋯他 不但 聪明，而且 勤劳。 He is not only smart, but also hardworking. Comparisons of Similar Grammar Points What's the difference between this grammar point and that grammar point? Check here. Adverbs Grammar Point (English)PatternExamplesComparing "cai" and "jiu"才 vs 就我 花 了 两 天 才修 好 ，你 一下子 就 弄 坏 了。 It took me 2 days to fix it and you just broke it immediately.Comparing "gang" and "gangcai"刚 vs. 刚才你 刚才 去 哪儿 了？我 刚 回来 。 Where did you just go? I just returned.Comparing "youdian" and "yidian"有点 vs. 一点这 衣服 有点 贵 ，便宜 一点 吧。 This cloth is so expensive, a cheaper one will do.Comparing "zai" and "you"再 vs 又我不能再喝了，你走后我又喝了两瓶 。 I can't drink some more, but I drank another 2 more after you left. Conjunctions Grammar Point (English)PatternExamplesComparing "haishi" and "huozhe"还是 vs. 或者我们 明天 见 还是 后天 见 ？明天 或者 后天 都 可以 。 When should we meet, tomorrow or the day after tomorrow? Both will do. Time Words Grammar Point (English)PatternExamplesComparing "yihou" "ranhou" "houlai"以后 vs. 然后 vs. 后来我 以后 想 开 公司 。/ 后来 他 去 了 美国 ，然后 他 的 父母 也 搬 过去 了 。 I want to start a company in the future. / Later he went to the USA, then his parents also moved over there.