HSK 1 Grammar Points

Comprehensive guide to HSK 1 grammar: basic sentence structures, question formation, negation, particles, and time expressions with examples.

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HSK 1 grammar covers approximately 66 core patterns needed for basic communication. These are the building blocks of all Chinese sentences.

1. Basic Sentence Structures

1.1 Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) — The Default Word Order

Chinese follows a strict Subject + Verb + Object order.

Pattern Example English
S + V + O 我吃米饭。 I eat rice.
S + V + O 她看书。 She reads a book.
S + V + O 他们学习中文。 They study Chinese.

1.2 The Verb 是 (shì) — "To Be"

Used to equate nouns and noun phrases. Never used with adjectives (use 很 instead).

Pattern Example English
N + 是 + N 我是学生。 I am a student.
N + 是 + N 她是老师。 She is a teacher.
N + 不是 + N 他不是医生。 He is not a doctor.

Important: Do NOT say 我是好 for "I am good." Use 我很好 instead.

1.3 The Verb 有 (yǒu) — "To Have" and "There Is/Are"

Pattern Example English
S + 有 + N 我有一本书。 I have a book.
S + 有 + N 他有两个孩子。 He has two children.
Place + 有 + N 桌子上有书。 There are books on the table.
S + 没有 + N 我没有钱。 I don't have money.

1.4 Adjective Predicate Sentences

Adjectives function as predicates. Use 很 (even when it's not emphatic — it's structurally required).

Pattern Example English
S + 很 + Adj 他很高。 He is tall.
S + 很 + Adj 今天很冷。 Today is cold.
S + 不 + Adj 这不好。 This is not good.

2. Question Formation

2.1 Yes/No Questions with 吗 (ma)

Add 吗 at the end of a statement to form a yes/no question.

Statement Question English
你是学生。 你是学生吗？ Are you a student?
他吃了。 他吃了吗？ Did he eat?
天气好。 天气好吗？ Is the weather good?

2.2 A-not-A Questions

Repeat the verb in positive and negative form.

Pattern Example English
V + 不 + V 你去不去？ Are you going (or not)?
是不是 他是不是学生？ Is he a student (or not)?
有没有 你有没有时间？ Do you have time?

2.3 Question Words (疑问词 yíwèncí)

Word Pinyin Meaning Example English
什么 shénme what 这是什么？ What is this?
谁 shéi who 他是谁？ Who is he?
哪 nǎ which 你是哪国人？ Which country are you from?
哪儿/哪里 nǎr / nǎlǐ where 你去哪儿？ Where are you going?
几 jǐ how many (≤10) 你有几本书？ How many books do you have?
多少 duōshao how many/much 多少钱？ How much money?
怎么 zěnme how / why 怎么去？ How to go?
怎么样 zěnmeyàng how about 你怎么样？ How are you?
为什么 wèishénme why 你为什么学中文？ Why do you study Chinese?
什么时候 shénme shíhou when 你什么时候来？ When are you coming?

2.4 Softening Questions with 呢 (ne)

Used to ask "what about...?" or continue a conversation topic.

Example English
我很好，你呢？ I'm fine, and you?
这个呢？ What about this one?

3. Negation

3.1 不 (bù) — Negating Verbs and Adjectives

Usage Example English
Negate verbs 我不去。 I'm not going.
Negate adjectives 天气不好。 The weather is not good.
Negate 是 他不是老师。 He is not a teacher.
Negate 想/喜欢 我不喜欢。 I don't like it.

Tone change: 不 is 4th tone (bù) but changes to 2nd tone (bú) before another 4th tone: 不是 (bú shì), 不要 (bú yào).

3.2 没有 (méiyǒu) / 没 (méi) — Negating 有 and Completed Actions

Usage Example English
Negate 有 我没有钱。 I don't have money.
Negate completed action 我没吃。 I didn't eat (yet).
Negate past events 他没来。 He didn't come.

Rule: Use 没 for past tense/completed actions. Use 不 for habitual negation or future plans.

  • 我不吃肉。= I don't eat meat (habit).
  • 我没吃肉。= I didn't eat meat (this time).

4. The Structural Particle 的 (de)

4.1 Possession (Noun/Pronoun + 的 + Noun)

Pattern Example English
Pronoun + 的 + N 我的书 my book
N + 的 + N 老师的书 the teacher's book
Name + 的 + N 王红的手机 Wang Hong's phone

4.2 Modifying Noun Phrases (Adj/Verb phrase + 的 + N)

Example English
好的天气 good weather
聪明的学生 smart student

Shortcut: 我的 can be shortened to 我 before close relationships:

  • 我妈妈 (my mom), 我朋友 (my friend)

5. The Aspect Particle 了 (le)

5.1 Completed Actions (Verb + 了)

Example English
我吃了。 I ate. / I have eaten.
他来了。 He came. / He has arrived.
我买了一本书。 I bought a book.

5.2 Change of State (Sentence + 了)

Example English
他来了。 He (has) come. (= he's here now)
春天了。 Spring has come.
我懂了。 I understand now.

6. Numbers and Measure Words

6.1 Number + Measure Word + Noun Structure

In Chinese, a measure word (量词) is always required between a number and a noun.

Number + MW + Noun Pinyin English
一个人 yī gè rén one person
两本书 liǎng běn shū two books
三杯水 sān bēi shuǐ three cups of water
四张纸 sì zhāng zhǐ four sheets of paper

6.2 Common Measure Words

MW Pinyin Used For Example
个 gè general (people, things) 一个苹果 one apple
本 běn books, volumes 一本书 one book
张 zhāng flat objects 一张票 one ticket
杯 bēi cups 一杯茶 one cup of tea
件 jiàn clothes, matters 一件事 one matter
只 zhī animals 一只猫 one cat
条 tiáo long flexible objects 一条鱼 one fish
块 kuài pieces; yuan (informal) 五块钱 five yuan
口 kǒu family members 三口人 three family members

6.3 Two vs. Two — 二 vs. 两

二 (èr) 两 (liǎng)
Counting: 一二三 Before measure words: 两个人
Ordinal: 第二 Time expressions: 两点
Math: 二加二 Money: 两块钱

7. Time Expressions

7.1 Time Phrases Come Before the Verb

In Chinese, time expressions always precede the action (opposite of English).

✓ Correct ✗ Incorrect
我明天去。(I'll go tomorrow.) 我去明天。
他昨天来了。(He came yesterday.) 他来了昨天。

7.2 Telling Time

Pattern Example English
N点 三点 3 o'clock
N点N分 三点二十分 3:20
N点半 三点半 3:30
N点一刻 三点一刻 3:15 (one quarter)
差N分N点 差五分三点 2:55 (5 to 3)

7.3 Date Format (Year → Month → Day → Time)

Chinese dates go from largest to smallest unit:

  • 2026年5月30日下午三点 = May 30, 2026, 3 PM

8. Location Expressions

8.1 在 (zài) — "At/In/On"

Pattern Example English
在 + Place 我在北京。 I am in Beijing.
在 + Place + V 我在北京工作。 I work in Beijing.
S + 在 + Place 书在桌子上。 The book is on the table.

8.2 Position Words

Chinese Pinyin English
上 shàng on / above
下 xià under / below
里/里面 lǐ / lǐmiàn inside
外/外面 wài / wàimiàn outside
前面 qiánmiàn in front
后面 hòumiàn behind
左边 zuǒbiān left side
右边 yòubiān right side
旁边 pángbiān next to / beside

8.3 Location Questions

Example English
你在哪儿？ Where are you?
书在哪里？ Where is the book?
厕所在哪儿？ Where is the bathroom?

9. Basic Sentence Patterns Summary

Pattern Structure Example
Identity S + 是 + N 我是学生。
Possession S + 有 + N 我有书。
Description S + 很 + Adj 天气很好。
Action S + V + O 我喝茶。
Location S + 在 + Place 我在家。
Negation S + 不 + V + O 我不吃肉。
Yes/No Q S + V + O + 吗？ 你吃饭了吗？
WH Question Replace word with Q-word 他是谁？
Completed S + V + 了 我吃了。

10. Polite Expressions

Pattern Example English
请 + V 请坐。 Please sit down.
请问 + Q 请问，厕所在哪儿？ Excuse me, where is the bathroom?
V + 一下 等一下。 Wait a moment.
可以 + V + 吗 可以进来吗？ May I come in?