A2 Grammar Patterns (HSK 3)
99 Mandarin grammar patterns at A2 level (HSK 3), with structure formulas, examples, pinyin, and notes.
99 grammar patterns at HSK 3 / CEFR A2 level. The 50 most important are listed below.
| # | Pattern | Structure | Example ZH | Pinyin | English | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 比 comparison | A + 比 + B + Adj | 他比我高。 | Tā bǐ wǒ gāo. | He is taller than me. | No 更 needed; add by how much after Adj |
| 2 | 没有 comparison | A + 没有 + B + Adj | 我没有他高。 | Wǒ méiyǒu tā gāo. | I'm not as tall as him. | Negates 比; neutral statement |
| 3 | 一样 same as | A + 跟 + B + 一样 (+ Adj) | 他跟我一样高。 | Tā gēn wǒ yīyàng gāo. | He is as tall as me. | 跟 links the two items |
| 4 | 把 construction | S + 把 + O + V + Complement | 我把书放在桌子上。 | Wǒ bǎ shū fàng zài zhuōzi shàng. | I put the book on the table. | Object must be specific/known; V needs result |
| 5 | 被 passive | S + 被 + Agent + V + Complement | 书被他拿走了。 | Shū bèi tā ná zǒu le. | The book was taken by him. | Usually negative or unwanted event |
| 6 | Result complements | V + 好/完/懂/到/开/错 | 我看完了。 | Wǒ kàn wán le. | I finished reading. | Result directly follows verb |
| 7 | Direction complements | V + 来/去 (+ 上/下/进/出/回/过/起) | 他跑进来了。 | Tā pǎo jìnlái le. | He ran in. | Object goes between V and 来/去 |
| 8 | Potential complements | V + 得/不 + Result | 我听得懂。/ 我听不懂。 | Wǒ tīng de dǒng. / Wǒ tīng bù dǒng. | I can / can't understand. | 得 = can; 不 = can't |
| 9 | Degree complement | V + 得 + Adj/Phrase | 他跑得很快。 | Tā pǎo de hěn kuài. | He runs fast. | 得 links verb to comment on manner |
| 10 | 虽然…但是 | 虽然 + S1, 但是 + S2 | 虽然贵，但是很好。 | Suīrán guì, dànshì hěn hǎo. | Although it's expensive, it's good. | Both clauses can share subject |
| 11 | 因为…所以 | 因为 + Cause, 所以 + Result | 因为下雨，所以我没去。 | Yīnwèi xià yǔ, suǒyǐ wǒ méi qù. | Because it rained, I didn't go. | Can use either alone in speech |
| 12 | 如果…就 | 如果 + Condition, 就 + Result | 如果你来，我就很高兴。 | Rúguǒ nǐ lái, wǒ jiù hěn gāoxìng. | If you come, I'll be happy. | 就 signals conclusion; can omit 如果 |
| 13 | 只有…才 | 只有 + Condition, 才 + Result | 只有努力，才能成功。 | Zhǐyǒu nǔlì, cái néng chénggōng. | Only by working hard can you succeed. | Necessary condition; 才 = only then |
| 14 | 连…也/都 even | 连 + NP + 也/都 + V | 连小孩都知道。 | Lián xiǎohái dōu zhīdào. | Even children know. | Highlights extreme/surprising case |
| 15 | 一边…一边 simultaneously | 一边 + V1, 一边 + V2 | 他一边吃饭一边看电视。 | Tā yībiān chīfàn yībiān kàn diànshì. | He eats while watching TV. | Same subject doing two actions at once |
| 16 | 先…再/然后 sequence | 先 + V1, 再/然后 + V2 | 先吃饭，再看电视。 | Xiān chīfàn, zài kàn diànshì. | First eat, then watch TV. | 再 = then (planned); 然后 = after that |
| 17 | 越来越 more and more | 越来越 + Adj/V | 天气越来越热。 | Tiānqì yuè lái yuè rè. | The weather is getting hotter and hotter. | Progressive change over time |
| 18 | 越…越 the more…the more | 越 + V/Adj, 越 + V/Adj | 越学越有意思。 | Yuè xué yuè yǒu yìsi. | The more you study, the more interesting it gets. | Parallel structure; same or diff subject |
| 19 | 着 ongoing state | V + 着 (+ O) | 她穿着红色的衣服。 | Tā chuān zhe hóngsè de yīfu. | She is wearing a red dress. | State in progress; not action |
| 20 | 过 experiential | V + 过 | 我去过北京。 | Wǒ qù guò Běijīng. | I've been to Beijing (before). | Life experience; negated with 没 |
| 21 | 就 then/only | Condition + 就 + V | 你说，我就明白了。 | Nǐ shuō, wǒ jiù míngbái le. | You explained, and I understood. | Signals immediacy or consequence |
| 22 | 才 only then/not until | Time/Condition + 才 + V | 他八点才来。 | Tā bā diǎn cái lái. | He didn't come until 8. | Later than expected; implies surprise |
| 23 | 已经…了 | 已经 + V + 了 | 我已经吃了。 | Wǒ yǐjīng chī le. | I already ate. | Action completed before reference time |
| 24 | 快要…了 soon | 快要 + V + 了 | 快要下雨了。 | Kuài yào xià yǔ le. | It's about to rain. | Imminent action; also 就要/快 |
| 25 | 正在…呢 right now | 正在 + V + 呢 | 我正在吃饭呢。 | Wǒ zhèngzài chīfàn ne. | I'm eating right now. | 呢 reinforces ongoing; can drop either |
| 26 | 得 must (obligation) | S + 得 + V | 你得走了。 | Nǐ děi zǒu le. | You have to go now. | Tone: děi; different from 得 complement |
| 27 | 应该 should | S + 应该 + V | 你应该早点睡。 | Nǐ yīnggāi zǎo diǎn shuì. | You should sleep earlier. | Advice or logical expectation |
| 28 | 不用 don't need to | S + 不用 + V | 你不用谢。 | Nǐ bú yòng xiè. | You don't need to thank me. | Negates obligation; = 不必 |
| 29 | 对 toward/to | S + 对 + Person + V | 他对我很好。 | Tā duì wǒ hěn hǎo. | He is very good to me. | 对 introduces recipient |
| 30 | 跟 with/and | S + 跟 + Person + V | 我跟朋友去了。 | Wǒ gēn péngyou qù le. | I went with a friend. | Accompaniment; also = and in lists |
| 31 | 从…到 from…to | 从 + Start + 到 + End | 从北京到上海 | cóng Běijīng dào Shànghǎi | from Beijing to Shanghai | Time or place range |
| 32 | 离 distance from | A + 离 + B + 远/近 | 我家离学校很近。 | Wǒ jiā lí xuéxiào hěn jìn. | My home is close to school. | 离 = spatial/temporal distance |
| 33 | 往 toward (direction) | 往 + Direction/Place + V | 往左走。 | Wǎng zuǒ zǒu. | Go left. | Direction of motion |
| 34 | 为 for (beneficiary) | S + 为 + Person + V | 他为大家做了很多。 | Tā wèi dàjiā zuò le hěn duō. | He did a lot for everyone. | More formal than 给 |
| 35 | 除了…以外 except/besides | 除了 + N + 以外, S + 都/也 + V | 除了他，大家都来了。 | Chúle tā, dàjiā dōu lái le. | Everyone came except him. | With 都 = except; with 也 = besides |
| 36 | 又…又 both…and | 又 + Adj/V + 又 + Adj/V | 又便宜又好吃。 | Yòu piányí yòu hǎo chī. | Both cheap and delicious. | Two positive qualities together |
| 37 | 不…也不 neither…nor | 不 + V1 + 也不 + V2 | 不吃也不喝。 | Bù chī yě bù hē. | Neither eating nor drinking. | Double negation for emphasis |
| 38 | 刚 just (recently) | 刚 (才) + V | 他刚走。 | Tā gāng zǒu. | He just left. | Very recent past |
| 39 | 还 still/also | S + 还 + V/Adj | 他还在睡觉。 | Tā hái zài shuìjiào. | He is still sleeping. | Continuation of state |
| 40 | 再 again (future) | S + 再 + V | 你再说一遍。 | Nǐ zài shuō yī biàn. | Say it one more time. | Future repetition; 又 for past |
| 41 | 又 again (past) | S + 又 + V + 了 | 他又迟到了。 | Tā yòu chídào le. | He was late again. | Past recurrence |
| 42 | 差点儿 almost | 差点儿 + V (bad thing) | 我差点儿摔倒了。 | Wǒ chà diǎnr shuāi dǎo le. | I almost fell. | Near-miss; usually negative event |
| 43 | Relative clauses | Modifier + 的 + N | 我买的书 | wǒ mǎi de shū | the book I bought | Modifier always before noun with 的 |
| 44 | 是…的 focus | 是 + Focus + 的 | 我是去年来的。 | Wǒ shì qùnián lái de. | I came last year. | Emphasizes time/place/manner of past event |
| 45 | 要…了 change soon | 要 + V + 了 | 天要黑了。 | Tiān yào hēi le. | It's getting dark. | Signals imminent change of state |
| 46 | 多/少 + V (do more/less) | 多/少 + V + O | 多喝水。 | Duō hē shuǐ. | Drink more water. | Advice to increase/decrease action |
| 47 | 以为 mistakenly thought | S + 以为 + clause | 我以为他走了。 | Wǒ yǐwéi tā zǒu le. | I thought he had left. (but he hadn't) | Implies incorrect assumption |
| 48 | 觉得 think/feel | S + 觉得 + clause/Adj | 我觉得这很有意思。 | Wǒ juéde zhè hěn yǒu yìsi. | I think this is very interesting. | Personal opinion or feeling |
| 49 | 让 let/make | S + 让 + Person + V | 老师让我回答问题。 | Lǎoshī ràng wǒ huídá wèntí. | The teacher asked me to answer. | Causative; also 叫, 使 |
| 50 | 帮 help (someone do) | S + 帮 + Person + V | 他帮我搬家。 | Tā bāng wǒ bānjiā. | He helped me move house. | 帮 + person + verb; also 帮助 |