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)	Pattern	Examples
Adjectives with "-ji le"	Adj. + 极了	这个主意好极了。 This is a very good idea.
Reduplication of adjectives	Adj. + Adj.	你应该慢慢地走。 You should walk slowly.
Turning adjectives into adverbs	Adj. + 地 + Verb	你要认真地学习。 You should study seriously.

Adverbs

Grammar Point (English)	Pattern	Examples
Expressing "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 inaction	Duration + 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)	Pattern	Examples
Adjectives 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)	Pattern	Examples
Expressing "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)	Pattern	Examples
Before 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)	Pattern	Examples
Approximating with sequential numbers	Number 1 + Number 2	三四个人。一两天。 3 or 4 people. 1 or 2 days.
Big numbers in Chinese	Number + 万 / 亿	五万 50, 000
Structure 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)	Pattern	Examples
Aspect 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)	Pattern	Examples
Expressing "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)	Pattern	Examples
Appearance 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 verbs	Subj. + 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)	Pattern	Examples
Expressing "should" with "yinggai"	应该 / 该 + Verb	你应该工作。 You should work.

Verb phrases

Grammar Point (English)	Pattern	Examples
Expressing "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 verbs	Verb + 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)	Pattern	Examples
Direction complement	Verb (+ Direction) + 来 / 去	我们走过去吧。 Let's walk over there.
Potential complement	Verb + 得 / 不 + Complement	做得完 / 做不完 Can finish / cannot finish
Result complements	Verb + 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)	Pattern	Examples
Expressing "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)	Pattern	Examples
Using "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)	Pattern	Examples
Expressing "half" with "ban"	Number + Measure Word + 半 + Noun	三个半小时 3 and a half hour

Sentence Patterns

Grammar Point (English)	Pattern	Examples
Expressing "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" sentences	Subj. + 把 + Obj.+ Verb Phrase	我把书看完了。 I finished reading the book.
Using "bei" sentences	Subj. + 被 + Doer + Verb Phrase	我被他骗了。 I got cheated by him.

Basic/Simple Sentence Patterns

Grammar Point (English)	Pattern	Examples
Alternative existential sentences	Place + 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 words	Question 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)	Pattern	Examples
Expressing 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 comparisons	Noun 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)	Pattern	Examples
Expressing "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)	Pattern	Examples
Comparing "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)	Pattern	Examples
Comparing "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)	Pattern	Examples
Comparing "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.