HSK 1
6 min
Basic Chinese Sentence Order
Build reliable starter sentences by placing people, time, place, action, and object in a natural order.
Grammar
Chinese Grammar Guides & drills
Bite-sized grammar explainers mapped to HSK levels, each paired with fill-in-the-blank quizzes so you can grasp the patterns through practice.
HSK 1
6 min
是, 有, and 在
Use the three most important beginner verbs for identity, possession, and location.
HSK 1
6 min
吗 Question Particle
Turn statements into yes/no questions with 吗, plus a cloze drill.
HSK 1
6 min
Question Words
Ask who, what, where, how, and how much without adding extra question machinery.
HSK 1
6 min
A-not-A Questions
Make compact yes-or-no questions like 好不好 and 去不去 without 吗.
HSK 1
6 min
不 vs 没有
Choose the right beginner negation for habits, plans, possession, and completed actions.
HSK 1
6 min
的 for Possession
Show whose thing it is and attach simple descriptions with 的.
HSK 1
6 min
Measure Words with 个
Count people and things with the basic measure word pattern.
HSK 1
6 min
Time Before the Verb
Place time words like 今天, 明天, and 现在 before the verb phrase.
HSK 1
6 min
Location Words with 在
Describe locations with 在 plus places and position words like 左边 and 里面.
HSK 1
6 min
很 with Adjectives
Use 很 to make simple adjective sentences sound complete.
HSK 1
6 min
要, 想, and 可以
Make practical requests, wants, and permission sentences with three starter modal verbs.
HSK 1
6 min
了 for Change and Completion
Recognize two early uses of 了: completed actions and new situations.
HSK 1
6 min
都 and 也 Word Order
Place “all” and “also” naturally in short Chinese sentences.
HSK 1
6 min
和 and 跟 for “And/With”
Connect people and things, and say who you do something with.
HSK 1
6 min
Basic Topic-Comment Sentences
Use simple topic-fronting to sound more natural in beginner conversations.
HSK 2
6 min
比 Comparisons
Use 比 to compare with quick examples and a cloze drill.
HSK 2
6 min
过 for Experience
Talk about places visited, foods tried, and things done at least once.
HSK 1
6 min
正在 vs 在 vs 着
Use 正在, 在, and 着 for actions in progress with examples and a cloze drill.
HSK 2
6 min
或者 vs 还是
Pick the right “or” with fast examples plus an interactive cloze quiz.
HSK 2
6 min
一下 for Light Actions
Soften requests and describe quick tries with 一下.
HSK 2
6 min
是...的 for Details
Highlight the detail of a known past event.
HSK 2
6 min
到, 离, and 从
Talk about routes, distance, and origin with three essential place words.
HSK 1
6 min
能, 会, and 可以
Choose the right “can” for skill, possibility, and permission.
HSK 1
6 min
Serial Verb Sentences
Say go buy food, come see me, sit down eat, and other action chains.
HSK 2
6 min
Chinese Result Complements: From Doing Something to Getting a Result
Learn 听懂, 看见, 做完 and 找到, with action-versus-result comparisons, negative sentences and original practice.
HSK 1
6 min
Duration and Frequency
Say how long something lasted and how many times it happened.
HSK 2
6 min
还是 vs 吗 Questions
Pick the right question shape for open yes-or-no questions and direct choices.
HSK 2
6 min
着 for Continuing State
Describe doors open, lights on, clothes worn, and people sitting or standing.
HSK 1
6 min
Chinese Sentence-Final Particles
Understand how 吗, 呢, 吧, 啊, 了, 哦, 呀, 嘛, 啦, 咯, 喽, and 呗 shape questions, suggestions, updates, and tone.
HSK 2
6 min
When to Use 的, 得, and 地
Learn the difference between 的, 得, and 地 with quick examples and a cloze drill.
HSK 2
6 min
因为...所以...
Build clear cause-and-effect sentences for explanations and excuses.
HSK 2
6 min
一...就...
Connect two events where the second happens immediately after the first.
HSK 2
6 min
了 vs 过
Contrast two aspect markers that both look backward but mean different things.
HSK 2
6 min
让 and 叫
Talk about permission, requests, and caused actions.
HSK 2
6 min
虽然...但是...
Make “although...but...” sentences that connect opposing ideas.
HSK 1
6 min
小 and 第 as Word Prefixes
Use 第 to turn a number into an order word like “first” or “second”, and 小 to make a friendly name like 小王.
HSK 1
5 min
Plural Pronouns with 们
Add 们 to 我, 你, 他 and 她 to say “we”, “you all” and “they”, and know when 们 can follow a word for people.
HSK 1
6 min
Direction Words 上, 下, 里, 外, 前, 后
Say where things are, like “on the table” or “in my bag”, by putting 上, 下, 里, 外, 前 or 后 after the noun.
HSK 1
6 min
Personal Pronouns 我, 你, 您, 他, 她, 它 and 大家
Use 我, 你, 您, 他, 她, 它 and 大家 correctly as subject or object, choose polite 您, and greet a whole group with 大家.
HSK 1
7 min
这 and 那: This, That, Here, There, and 有的
Point to people, things and places with 这, 那, 这个, 这些, 这儿 and 那里, and pick out “some” of a group with 有的 and 有些.
HSK 1
6 min
Number + Measure Word Phrases like 三个, 两本, 一次
Count people, things and actions the Chinese way, with a measure word between the number and the noun: 三个人, 两本书, 去过一次.
HSK 1
5 min
Ordinal Numbers with 第: 第一, 第二, 第几
Turn any number into “first, second, third” with 第, ask “which one?” with 第几, and know when Chinese shows order without 第.
HSK 1
6 min
Dates with 年, 月, 号 and 星期
Say and ask dates the Chinese way, from big to small: year 年, month 月, day 号 or 日, then weekday 星期.
HSK 1
6 min
Telling Time in Chinese: Hours, Minutes and Meeting Times
Learn how to ask and tell the time in Mandarin with 点, 分, 半 and 刻, plus clear examples for appointments and clock-reading practice.
HSK 1
7 min
Separable Verbs 睡觉, 上课, 说话, 生病
Use everyday separable verbs like 睡觉, 上课, 上班, 说话 and 生病, and know what can go in the middle and what can’t follow them.
HSK 1
5 min
Sentences Without a Subject: 下雨了, 上课了, 有人吗
Say complete sentences that have no subject at all, like 下雨了, 上课了, 有人找你 and 请进, without adding an English-style “it”.
HSK 1
7 min
Commands with 请, 吧, 不要 and Negation with 不, 没
Ask, suggest and tell people not to do things with 请, 吧, 不要 and 别, and choose correctly between 不, 没 and 没有.
HSK 1
5 min
Exclamations with 太……了, 真 and 多……啊
Show strong feelings with 太好了！, 真好吃！ and 多漂亮啊！, and know when 太……了 means “too” rather than “so”.
HSK 1
6 min
Double Objects with 给, 问, 教, 送 and 告诉
Say who gets what with verbs like 给, 问, 教, 送 and 告诉: verb + person + thing, as in 老师给我一本书.
HSK 2
6 min
The Suffix 面 in 上面, 里面, 外面
Add 面 to a direction word to make a full place word like 上面 “on top” or 外面 “outside” that can stand on its own.
HSK 2
5 min
Left and Right with 左 and 右
Say where things are with 左边 and 右边, give directions with 往左 and 往右, and name the left or right hand with 左手 and 右手.
HSK 2
6 min
Doubled Verbs: 看看, 看一看, 看了看, 休息休息
Double a verb (看看, 想一想, 休息休息) to make an action sound quick and relaxed, and use 看了看 for a quick action that already happened.
HSK 2
6 min
Doubled Adjectives: 大大, 慢慢, 高高兴兴
Double an adjective as AA (大大, 慢慢) or AABB (高高兴兴) to paint a vivid picture, and attach it with 的, 地 or 得.
HSK 2
5 min
Saying “Maybe” with 可能
Use 可能 before a verb to say something might happen or might be true, and tell it apart from 可以 and 不可能.
HSK 2
5 min
自己 for “Myself, Yourself, On My Own”
Use 自己 to say “myself” or “yourself”, to stress that someone does something on their own, and 自己的 for “my own”.
HSK 2
7 min
这么, 那么, 这样, 那样 and 每
Say “so hot” with 这么热, “like this” with 这样做, “that kind of” with 那样的, and “every day” with 每天.
HSK 2
6 min
Big and Rough Numbers with 万, 好多 and 多
Count in ten-thousands with 万, say “lots of” with 好多, and say “twenty-something” or “over an hour” with 多.
HSK 1
6 min
Counting Times with 次: 去过两次
Say how many times you did something with verb + number + 次, and put the object in the right place.
HSK 2
6 min
Degree Adverbs 最, 多 and 好
Say “the most” with 最, “how beautiful!” with 多漂亮啊, and a chatty “so cold!” with 好冷啊.
HSK 2
6 min
About to Happen: 要, 快要, 就要……了
Say something is about to happen with 要……了, 快要……了 or 就要……了, and contrast it with 已经……了 for what has already happened.
HSK 2
6 min
From and Toward with 从 and 往
Use 从 to say where a movement starts or which way it goes through, and 往 to say which direction someone is heading.
HSK 2
6 min
Prepositions 给 and 跟 Before the Verb
Use 给 to say who receives an action, like 给妈妈打电话, and 跟 to say who you do something with, like 跟朋友一起去.
HSK 2
6 min
因为 + Noun for “Because of”
Use 因为 with a short reason, like 因为这件事 or 因为生病, before the verb to say what caused something.
HSK 2
7 min
Result Complements 错, 懂, 好, 会, 完
Add 错, 懂, 好, 会 or 完 after a verb to say how an action turned out: 写错, 听懂, 做好, 学会, 吃完.
HSK 2
7 min
Direction After a Verb: 来, 去, 上, 下, 进, 出, 过, 回
Add 来 or 去 after a verb to show movement toward or away from you, and 上, 下, 进, 出, 过 or 回 to show which way something moves.
HSK 2
7 min
Verb + 得 to Say How Well Something Is Done
Use verb + 得 + adjective to comment on how someone does something, like 他跑得很快 or 你说得很对.
HSK 2
6 min
Place + Verb + 着 to Describe What Is There
Describe what is in a place and how it is placed, like 桌子上放着一本书 or 门口站着两个人.
HSK 2
6 min
Pivot Sentences with 让, 叫, 请 and 使
Say who asks, invites or makes someone do something, as in 老师让我们读课文 and 这件事让我很高兴.
HSK 1
7 min
联合, 偏正, 动宾, 主谓 for the Four Basic Phrase Types
See how Chinese builds phrases by joining equal words, adding a describer, adding an object, or pairing a subject with a predicate.
HSK 1
5 min
A，B for Joining Clauses Without Connecting Words
Join two short clauses with just a comma and let the meaning show how they connect.
HSK 2
5 min
都...了 for “Already”
Use 都...了 to stress that it is already late, a lot, or a certain point, often with surprise or impatience.
HSK 2
6 min
经常, 常常, 总是 and 又 for “Often”, “Always” and “Again”
Say how often something happens with 经常, 常常 and 总是, and use 又 for a repeat that already happened.
HSK 1
5 min
...，还... for Adding Another Fact
Use 还 in a second clause to add one more thing someone did, does, or is.
HSK 2
5 min
还是...吧 for “Had Better”
Use 还是...吧 to suggest the better choice after thinking it over.
HSK 1
5 min
今天星期一 for Sentences Without 是
Say dates, times, ages, and prices with a noun or number right after the subject, no 是 needed, and ask “how is it?” with just 怎么样.
HSK 2
6 min
Noun, Verb and Adjective Phrases
See how Chinese words group into noun, verb and adjective phrases, and where each type fits in a sentence.
HSK 1
5 min
块, 毛 and 分 for Saying Prices
Say Chinese prices out loud with 块, 毛 and 分, and know when the last unit can be dropped.
HSK 2
5 min
什么的 for “And So On”
End a list of examples with 什么的 to say “and so on” in everyday speech.
HSK 1
5 min
喂 for “Hello?” on the Phone
Use 喂 to answer or start a phone call, and to call out “hey” to get attention.
HSK 2
5 min
一起 for “Together”
Use 一起 before the verb to say people do something together.
HSK 2
6 min
A有B那么... for “As … As”
Use A有B那么/这么 + adjective to ask or say whether A reaches B’s level.
HSK 1
6 min
再 and 就 for “Again” and “Then”
Use 再 for doing something again later, and 再 and 就 to link one step to the next.
HSK 2
5 min
贵十块, 大两岁 for Adjective + Amount
To say by how much, put the amount right after the adjective: 贵十块 “ten yuan more expensive”, 大两岁 “two years older”, 晚了二十分钟 “twenty minutes late”.
HSK 2
6 min
几, 十多个 and 一个多小时 for Approximate Numbers
In statements, 几 means “a few” (几个人, 十几岁); 多 means “and more”, before the measure word after round numbers (二十多个) and after it with splittable units (一个多小时, 三块多).
HSK 2
5 min
帮忙, 游泳, 跳舞, 跑步 for Separable Verbs
帮忙, 游泳, 跳舞 and 跑步 are verb + object words that split apart: 了, 过, time words and the person you help go in the middle.
HSK 2
5 min
他比我跑得快 and 他跑得比我快 for Comparing Actions
To compare how two people do something, combine 比 with a 得 complement: 他比我跑得快 or 他跑得比我快 both mean “he runs faster than me”.
HSK 2
5 min
别 for “Don’t”
别 + verb tells someone not to do something; 别…了 tells them to stop, or to drop a plan.
HSK 1
5 min
陈述句 for Statements: Saying What Is and What Isn’t
A declarative sentence (陈述句) tells a fact in normal word order and ends with 。; make it negative with 不 or 没, and add 吗 to turn it into a question.
HSK 2
6 min
走进来, 跑出去, 拿回来 for Two-Part Direction Complements
A compound directional complement adds a direction (进, 出, 上, 下, 回, 过, 起) plus 来 or 去 after a verb: 走进来 “walk in (toward me)”, 跑出去 “run out (away from me)”.
HSK 2
5 min
我的, 新的, 卖水果的 for 的-Phrases (“Mine”, “The New One”)
A 的-phrase is a describer + 的 with the noun left out: 我的 (mine), 大的 (the big one), 卖水果的 (the fruit seller), 妈妈做的 (what Mom made).
HSK 1
6 min
很, 非常, 太, 真 and 有点儿 for “How Much”
Choose the right degree word before an adjective: plain 很, strong 非常, “too” or “so” with 太, exclaiming 真, and slightly unwelcome 有点儿.
HSK 1
6 min
定语 and 状语 for Describing Nouns and Verbs
Describers always come first in Chinese: a 定语 goes before a noun (我的书, 三本书), and a 状语 goes before a verb or adjective (今天在家学习, 都很好).
HSK 2
6 min
还, 正 and 有时候 for “Still”, “Right Then” and “Sometimes”
还 means “still” (还没 = “not yet”), 正 puts an action right in progress at a certain moment, and 有时候 means “sometimes”; all three go before the verb.
HSK 1
5 min
和 and 对 for “With” and “To”
Use 和 + person for doing something with someone, and 对 + person for who your words or attitude are aimed at; both go before the verb.
HSK 2
5 min
就 and 还是 for “Exactly” and “Still”
As mood adverbs, 就 stresses that something is exactly so (我就是王明), 还是 says something is still true in spite of what happened, and 都…了 means “already”.
HSK 1
6 min
本, 家, 口, 件, 只 and 杯: Measure Words Beyond 个
Count books with 本, shops with 家, family members with 口, clothes with 件, animals with 只, pieces with 块, money with 元, and drinks with the borrowed measure word 杯.
HSK 2
5 min
条, 位, 间, 名 and 包 for Roads, People, Rooms and Packets
条 counts long, thin things, 位 and 名 count people politely or formally, 间 counts rooms, and 包 counts things that come in a bag or packet.
HSK 1
5 min
们 and 边 Suffixes for “Groups” and “Sides”
Add 们 to a pronoun or a word for people to make a group, and add 边 to 上, 前, 左 and other direction words to make a place word that can stand on its own.
HSK 2
5 min
那 and 但 for “In That Case” and “But”
At the start of a reply, 那 means “then, in that case”; 但 is a shorter 但是 for “but”. Together with 虽然, 因为, 所以 and 还是, they join clauses.
HSK 2
5 min
今天晴天 and 他是高个子 for Describing With Noun Phrases
A noun phrase can describe a feature of the subject, with or without 是: 今天晴天, 我妹妹长头发, 他是个高个子, 这件衣服是新的.
HSK 1
6 min
二, 两, 零 and 半 for Saying Numbers
Build Chinese numbers from 一 to 千, choose between 二 and 两, fill gaps with 零, and say “half” and “one and a half” with 半.
HSK 2
5 min
三楼, 二年级, 五号 for Order Without 第
For numbered things in a series, such as floors, school years, classes and dates, a number + unit word already shows order: 三楼 “the third floor”, 二年级 “second grade”.
HSK 2
5 min
作业做完了 for Thing-First Sentences Without 被
In Chinese, the thing that receives the action can simply be the subject, with no 被: 作业做完了 means “the homework is done”.
HSK 1
5 min
桌子上有一本书 for “There Is” with 有 and 是
Start with the place, then use 有 + number + measure word + noun to say what is there, or 是 + noun to name what fills that spot.
HSK 1
5 min
主语 and 宾语 for the Subject and the Object
The subject comes first and the object comes right after the verb; a noun, a pronoun or a noun phrase can fill either slot, and only word order shows who does what.
HSK 2
5 min
今天天气很好 for Sentences With a Second Subject
In a 主谓谓语句 the predicate is a small subject + predicate: 今天 | 天气很好, 他 | 个子很高, 我们学校 | 学生很多.
HSK 1
5 min
天, 年, 岁, 点, 分, 号 for Time Words Without 个
Put 天, 年, 岁, 点, 分, 号 and 日 straight after a number to say how long, how old, what time and what date, with no 个 in between.
HSK 1
6 min
我喝茶 and 他很忙 for Verb and Adjective Predicates
The predicate (谓语) says something about the subject: a verb phrase tells what the subject does, an adjective phrase describes it, and neither needs an extra “is.”
HSK 2
6 min
做完, 走进来, 跑得快 for Verb-Complement Phrases
A verb-complement phrase (动补短语) is a verb plus a word after it that tells the result, direction, state or amount of the action: 做完, 走进来, 跑得很快, 等了一个小时.
HSK 2
5 min
送给他一本书 for Verb + 给 + Person + Thing
Verbs of passing something on can take 给 right after them, then the person, then the thing: 送给他一本书, 借给我一支笔, 还给你.
HSK 2
5 min
我买的书 for Describing Nouns With Actions
To describe a noun with an action, put the verb phrase or subject + verb before the noun and add 的: 来的人, 学汉语的学生, 妈妈做的菜.
HSK 2
5 min
为什么 for “Why”
为什么 asks for a reason; it sits after the subject, before the verb, and the answer usually starts with 因为.
HSK 1
5 min
……，也…… for “Also” and “Too”
Put 也 right before the verb of a second clause to say “also” or “too,” and use 还 when the same person adds one more thing.
HSK 1
5 min
在...呢 and ...呢 for Actions in Progress
Say what is happening right now with 在 or 正在 before the verb, add 呢 at the end for a friendly spoken tone, or use 呢 alone.
HSK 1
6 min
在学校 and 桌子上 for Preposition and Location Phrases
Build location phrases like 桌子上 and 教室里 (noun + location word), and preposition phrases like 在学校 and 和朋友 that go before the verb.
Questions about this resource
Which Chinese grammar patterns should a beginner learn first?
Start with short statements, questions with 吗, negatives with 不 and 没有, and possession with 的. A basic statement often follows subject–verb–object: 我喝水 means “I drink water.” Learn each pattern with a sentence you can change and reuse.
How can I practise grammar at my HSK level?
Use the level filter to find guides, then try their examples and available practice. A level filter includes material up to that level. This is a collection of explanations and exercises, not a grammar checker for text you submit.