HSK 3 Grammar Points

Comprehensive guide to HSK 3 grammar: 把 construction, 被 passive, complements, conditionals, and intermediate patterns — with tables and examples.

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HSK 3 grammar covers approximately 70 core patterns for confident intermediate communication. This level introduces the 把 construction, 被 passive, result/direction/degree/potential complements, and a wider range of complex sentence structures.

1. The 把 (bǎ) Construction

把 preposition moves the object before the verb, emphasizing the disposal, transformation, or placement of the object.

1.1 Core 把 Pattern

Pattern Example English
S + 把 + O + V + Result 我把书放在桌子上了。 I put the book on the table.
S + 把 + O + V + 完 他把饭吃完了。 He finished eating the food.
S + 把 + O + V + 好 请把作业做好。 Please finish the homework properly.
S + 把 + O + V + 掉 我把钱花掉了。 I spent all the money.
S + 把 + O + V + 成 她把我当成朋友。 She treats me as a friend.

1.2 Rules for 把 Sentences

  • The verb must have a complement or other element after it (not a bare verb)
  • The object must be definite (specific / already known)
  • Cannot use 把 with verbs of perception (听、看、想) or 是、有、在

1.3 Common 把 Verbs and Complements

Verb + Complement Meaning Example
把…拿出来 take out 把书拿出来 take the book out
把…放进去 put in 把衣服放进去 put the clothes in
把…写下来 write down 把名字写下来 write the name down
把…告诉 tell 把消息告诉我 tell me the news
把…带走 take away 把东西带走 take the things away

2. The 被 (bèi) Passive

被 marks a passive construction — the subject receives or suffers the action.

2.1 Core 被 Pattern

Pattern Example English
S + 被 + Agent + V + Complement 我被老师批评了。 I was criticized by the teacher.
S + 被 + V + Complement (no agent) 钱包被偷了。 The wallet was stolen.

2.2 Rules for 被 Sentences

  • Often implies an undesirable result (adversative passive)
  • The verb usually needs a complement or 了 after it
  • Agent can be omitted if unknown or obvious

2.3 Neutral Passive Structures (without 被)

Structure Example English
让 + Agent + V 他让我等了一个小时。 He made me wait an hour.
叫 + Agent + V 他叫我去。 He told me to go.
给 + Agent + V 书给他拿走了。 The book was taken by him.

3. Result Complements

Result complements follow a verb directly and describe the result of the action.

3.1 Common Result Complements

Complement Meaning Example
好 done properly 做好了 finished properly
完 completed 吃完了 finished eating
到 reached 买到了 managed to buy
见 perceived 听见了 heard it
懂 understood 看懂了 understood by reading
错 done wrongly 写错了 wrote wrong
住 firmly / stopped 记住了 memorized
开 opened / separated 打开了 opened (it)
掉 removed / done away with 扔掉了 threw away

3.2 Potential Form (V + 得/不 + Complement)

Positive Negative Meaning
做得完 做不完 can / can't finish
听得懂 听不懂 can / can't understand (audio)
看得见 看不见 can / can't see
记得住 记不住 can / can't remember
走得了 走不了 can / can't leave

4. Direction Complements

Direction complements describe the direction of movement resulting from the action.

4.1 Simple Direction Complements

Complement Meaning Example
V + 上 upward / onto 走上去 walk up
V + 下 downward 坐下 sit down
V + 进 inward 走进去 walk in
V + 出 outward 拿出来 take out
V + 回 back 跑回去 run back
V + 过 past, over 走过去 walk past
V + 起 up, rise 站起来 stand up

4.2 Compound Direction Complements

Combine simple complements with 来/去 to show direction relative to speaker.

Complement Meaning Example
V + 上来 come up here 跑上来 run up here
V + 上去 go up there 爬上去 climb up there
V + 下来 come down here 走下来 walk down here
V + 进来 come in 请进来 please come in
V + 出去 go out 跑出去 run out
V + 起来 start doing; sound like 唱起来 start singing; 听起来 sound like

5. Degree Complements with 得

5.1 得 Complement — How Well / How Much

Pattern Example English
V + 得 + Adj 她跑得很快。 She runs very fast.
V + 得 + VP 他说得让我哭了。 He spoke so that I cried.
V + O + V + 得 + Adj 他说中文说得很流利。 He speaks Chinese very fluently.
Adj + 得 忙得没有时间吃饭。 So busy (that) there's no time to eat.

5.2 极了 / 死了 / 坏了 — Extremely

Pattern Example English
Adj + 极了 好极了 extremely good
Adj + 死了 累死了 exhausted (lit. tired to death)
Adj + 坏了 急坏了 extremely anxious

6. Concessive and Causal Patterns

6.1 尽管…还是/仍然 — Even Though … Still

Pattern Example English
尽管 + Concession, 还是/仍然 + Result 尽管很贵，他还是买了。 Even though it was expensive, he still bought it.

6.2 既然…就 — Since … Then

Pattern Example English
既然 + Premise, 就 + Conclusion 既然你来了，就一起吃饭吧。 Since you're here, let's eat together.

6.3 只要…就 — As Long As … Then

Pattern Example English
只要 + Condition, 就 + Result 只要努力，就能成功。 As long as you work hard, you can succeed.

6.4 只有…才 — Only If … Then

Pattern Example English
只有 + Condition, 才 + Result 只有努力，才能进步。 Only by working hard can you improve.

7. Conditional Sentences

7.1 如果/要是…就/那么 — If … Then

Pattern Example English
如果 + Condition, 就 + Result 如果明天下雨，就不去了。 If it rains tomorrow, I won't go.
要是…就 要是你不来，我就走。 If you don't come, I'll leave.

7.2 除非…否则/不然 — Unless … Otherwise

Pattern Example English
除非 + Condition, 否则 + Consequence 除非你道歉，否则我不原谅你。 Unless you apologize, I won't forgive you.

8. Expressing Sequence

8.1 先…然后…再 — First … Then … Then

Pattern Example English
先 V1, 然后 V2, 再 V3 先洗手，然后吃饭，再看电视。 First wash hands, then eat, then watch TV.

8.2 一…就 — As Soon As

Pattern Example English
一 + V1 + 就 + V2 他一到家就睡觉。 As soon as he gets home, he sleeps.

8.3 刚/刚才 — Just (Completed)

Pattern Example English
刚 + V 他刚走。 He just left.
刚才 + V 刚才下雨了。 It just rained.

9. Simultaneous and Progressive Actions

9.1 一边…一边 — While Doing

Pattern Example English
一边 + V1 + 一边 + V2 他一边听音乐一边做作业。 He does homework while listening to music.

9.2 正在 / 在 — Action in Progress

Pattern Example English
正在 + V + 呢 他正在睡觉呢。 He is sleeping right now.
在 + V 她在打电话。 She is making a call.

10. Pivotal Constructions

A pivotal sentence has one noun phrase that is both the object of the first verb and the subject of the second.

Pattern Example English
S1 + V1 + N + V2 老师让我回答问题。 The teacher had me answer the question.
请/叫/让 + Person + V 请你坐下。 Please sit down.
有 + N + V 有人敲门。 There is someone knocking at the door.

11. More Question Patterns

11.1 是不是 / 对不对 — Confirmation Questions

Pattern Example English
是不是 + Statement? 你是不是学生？ Are you a student?
Statement + 对不对？ 这样对不对？ Is this right?

11.2 越来越 — More and More

Pattern Example English
越来越 + Adj/V 天气越来越热。 The weather is getting hotter and hotter.

11.3 越…越 — The More … The More

Pattern Example English
越 + V/Adj + 越 + V/Adj 他越说越高兴。 The more he talked, the happier he became.

12. Measure Words Review

Category MW Used with Example
People 个 general 一个人
Flat things 张 paper, table, face 一张纸
Long things 条 rope, fish, news 一条路
Books 本 bound books 一本书
Events 次 times / occurrences 一次
Actions 下 brief actions 打一下
Clothing 件 tops 一件衣服
Pairs 双 shoes, socks 一双鞋

13. Key Sentence Patterns Summary

Pattern Example English
把 + O + V + Complement 把书放好。 Put the book properly.
被 + Agent + V 被老师批评了。 Criticized by the teacher.
V + 得 + Adj 说得很好。 Speaks very well.
V + 得/不 + Complement 听得懂 / 听不懂 Can / can't understand
只要…就 只要练习，就会进步。 Practice and you'll improve.
越来越 + Adj 越来越好。 Better and better.
一…就 一来就吃。 As soon as (he) arrives, (he) eats.