A1 Grammar Patterns (HSK 1–2)

40 foundational Mandarin grammar patterns at A1 level (HSK 1–2), with structure formulas, examples, pinyin, and notes.

40 grammar patterns at HSK 1–2 / CEFR A1 level.

#	Pattern	Structure	Example ZH	Pinyin	English	Note
1	是 copula	S + 是 + N	我是学生。	Wǒ shì xuésheng.	I am a student.	Only before nouns, NOT adjectives
2	Adjective predicate	S + 很/太/真 + Adj	她很高。	Tā hěn gāo.	She is tall.	No 是 needed; bare adj implies comparison
3	有 possession	S + 有 + Object	我有一本书。	Wǒ yǒu yī běn shū.	I have a book.	Negated with 没有, never 不有
4	有 existence	Place + 有 + Thing	桌子上有书。	Zhuōzi shàng yǒu shū.	There is a book on the table.	Place first, then 有, then thing
5	不 negation	S + 不 + V/Adj	我不是老师。	Wǒ bú shì lǎoshī.	I am not a teacher.	不 → bú before 4th-tone syllable
6	没有 negation	S + 没有 + Object/V	我没有钱。	Wǒ méiyǒu qián.	I don't have money.	Negates 有 and past actions
7	吗 yes/no question	Statement + 吗？	你是学生吗？	Nǐ shì xuésheng ma?	Are you a student?	Add 吗 to statement; no word-order change
8	呢 follow-up question	Noun/Pronoun + 呢？	我很好，你呢？	Wǒ hěn hǎo, nǐ ne?	I'm fine, and you?	Continues conversation topic
9	Basic SVO	S + V + O	我喜欢中文。	Wǒ xǐhuān Zhōngwén.	I like Chinese.	Default word order
10	什么 (what)	什么 + N / V + 什么	你叫什么名字？	Nǐ jiào shénme míngzi?	What is your name?	Question word stays in place
11	哪里/哪儿 (where)	在 + 哪里/哪儿？	你在哪里？	Nǐ zài nǎlǐ?	Where are you?	哪儿 is more colloquial/Beijing
12	谁 (who)	谁 + V / S + 是 + 谁	他是谁？	Tā shì shéi?	Who is he?	谁 in same position as the answer
13	怎么 (how)	怎么 + V	你怎么去？	Nǐ zěnme qù?	How are you going?	Asks about manner/method
14	多少/几 (how many)	几/多少 + MW + N	你有几本书？	Nǐ yǒu jǐ běn shū?	How many books do you have?	几 < ~10; 多少 for any amount
15	的 possessive	Pronoun/N + 的 + N	我的书	wǒ de shū	my book	的 can be omitted with close relations: 我妈
16	Measure words	Num + MW + N	一个人；两本书	yī gè rén; liǎng běn shū	one person; two books	两 (not 二) before MW for quantity
17	Time before verb	S + Time + V + O	我明天去北京。	Wǒ míngtiān qù Běijīng.	I'm going to Beijing tomorrow.	Time before place before verb
18	Place with 在	S + 在 + Place	我在学校。	Wǒ zài xuéxiào.	I am at school.	在 as main verb = "be at"
19	Location before verb	S + 在 + Place + V	我在图书馆学习。	Wǒ zài túshūguǎn xuéxí.	I study at the library.	在-phrase as adverbial before verb
20	了 completion	S + V + 了 (+ O)	我吃了。	Wǒ chī le.	I ate.	Negated with 没 (drop 了); not strictly past tense
21	要 want/will	S + 要 + V	我要喝水。	Wǒ yào hē shuǐ.	I want to / will drink water.	Context clarifies want vs future
22	想 would like	S + 想 + V	我想去中国。	Wǒ xiǎng qù Zhōngguó.	I would like to go to China.	Softer than 要; expresses wish
23	可以 can/may	S + 可以 + V + 吗？	我可以进来吗？	Wǒ kěyǐ jìnlái ma?	May I come in?	Permission or possibility
24	会 know how/will	S + 会 + V	我会说中文。	Wǒ huì shuō Zhōngwén.	I can speak Chinese.	Learned skill; also future inference
25	也 also/too	S + 也 + V/Adj	我也是学生。	Wǒ yě shì xuésheng.	I am also a student.	Must come before verb/adj, not end
26	都 all/both	S(plural) + 都 + V	他们都是学生。	Tāmen dōu shì xuésheng.	They are all students.	Comes before verb; subject must be plural
27	很 very	S + 很 + Adj	这本书很有意思。	Zhè běn shū hěn yǒu yìsi.	This book is very interesting.	Bare adj without 很 implies comparison
28	太…了 too	太 + Adj + 了	太贵了！	Tài guì le!	Too expensive!	了 required for "too" meaning
29	还是 or (questions)	A + 还是 + B？	你喝茶还是咖啡？	Nǐ hē chá háishì kāfēi?	Tea or coffee?	Choice question; answer selects one
30	或者 or (statements)	A + 或者 + B	你可以坐公共汽车或者地铁。	Nǐ kěyǐ zuò gōnggòng qìchē huòzhě dìtiě.	You can take a bus or subway.	In statements/suggestions, not questions
31	A不A question	V + 不 + V / Adj + 不 + Adj	你是不是学生？	Nǐ shì bu shì xuésheng?	Are you a student or not?	Informal yes/no question; no 吗 needed
32	Numbers + measure words	Num + MW + N	三个人	sān gè rén	three people	个 is default MW when unsure
33	Ordinal 第	第 + Num (+ MW) + N	第一名	dì yī míng	first place	第 prefix makes ordinal
34	这/那 demonstratives	这/那 (+ MW) + N	这是什么？	Zhè shì shénme?	What is this?	这 near speaker; 那 further away
35	极了 extremely	Adj + 极了	好极了！	Hǎo jí le!	Excellent!	Stronger than 太…了; always positive feel
36	Subject omission	(S omitted) + V	去。	Qù.	(I'm) going.	Subject dropped when clear from context
37	Double object	S + V + IO + DO	我给他一本书。	Wǒ gěi tā yī běn shū.	I gave him a book.	Indirect object before direct object
38	Direction complements	V + 来/去	进来；出去	jìnlái; chūqù	come in; go out	来 toward speaker; 去 away from speaker
39	Duration	S + V + 了 + Duration	我学了两年。	Wǒ xué le liǎng nián.	I studied for two years.	Duration after verb (with 了)
40	Age expressions	S + Num + 岁	我二十岁。	Wǒ èrshí suì.	I am 20 years old.	No 是 or 有 needed; 岁 follows number