Chinese Grammar by HSK Level

Chinese sentences follow Subject + Verb + Object order, the same as English. The verb 是 links nouns, and the particle 的 marks possession.

Chinese has several ways to ask a question: add 吗 at the end (yes/no), use a question word (什么, 谁, 哪儿, 怎么), or use the A不A pattern.

Chinese has two main negators: 不 (bù) for the present, the future and habits, and 没 (méi) for the past and completed actions. Choosing the wrong one is a very common mistake.

In Chinese a measure word must go between the number and the noun: 一本书 (one book). Each kind of noun takes its own measure word.

Chinese does not conjugate verbs for tense; particles mark aspect instead: 了 (completed), 正在 (in progress), 会 (will / know how to), 过 (have ever).

Comparisons use 比, polite requests use 请, and time is given with words like 每天/今天. These patterns come up constantly in daily speech.

The 把 construction moves the object in front of the verb to stress what was done to it. Basic pattern: S + 把 + O + V + result/complement.

The 被 construction expresses the passive: the affected subject comes first and the agent follows 被, though the agent may be left out.

A resultative complement goes after the verb to state the outcome of the action: 看懂, 写完, 听见, 做好...

Chinese uses several conditional patterns, such as 如果...就..., 要是...就..., 只有...才... and 除非...才....

The degree complement with 得 says how well an action is done: speaking fast or slowly, writing neatly, sleeping well...

Directional complements show which way something moves: toward the speaker (来) or away from them (去), or up, down, in and out.

连...都/也... stresses how surprising something is: even X does Y.

Use 越...越... or 越来越... to express a trend that rises or falls over time or by degree.