HSK 2 Grammar — 35 Topics & Common Mistakes

Examples

• 我吃了三个苹果。(Wǒ chī le sān ge píngguǒ.) — I ate three apples.
  我吃了苹果 (with bare object — sounds incomplete)

  Quantified object 三个苹果 makes the sentence complete. Bare object often needs sentence-final 了₂.

• 他买了一本书。(Tā mǎi le yì běn shū.) — He bought a book.
  他买书了 (this is also OK — sentence-final 了₂)

  了₁ after the verb with a quantified object. Both forms exist but are slightly different focus.

• 我看了那部电影。(Wǒ kàn le nà bù diànyǐng.) — I watched that movie.
  我看那部电影了 (different focus — change of state)

  Specific definite object (那部电影) works with 了₁ alone.

Examples

• 我饿了。(Wǒ è le.) — I'm hungry / I've gotten hungry.
  我饿 (without 了 — just 'I am hungry' as a permanent quality, less natural)

  了₂ signals the change: was not hungry, now is. Without 了, the bare 我饿 is grammatical but lacks the 'now' nuance.

• 下雨了。(Xià yǔ le.) — It's started raining.
  下雨 (without 了 — would be a habitual/general statement)

  了₂ marks the new situation: rain has begun. Bare 下雨 sounds incomplete or generic.

• 他来了。(Tā lái le.) — He came / He's here now.
  他来 (incomplete)

  了₂ signals he has arrived / is now present. Even short verbs need 了 for change of state.

Examples

• 我去过中国。(Wǒ qù guo Zhōngguó.) — I've been to China.
  我去了中国 (changes meaning to 'I went to China — specific event')

  过 = experiential 'have been'. 了 = specific completed trip. Both grammatical, different meanings.

• 他学过中文。(Tā xué guo Zhōngwén.) — He's studied Chinese (at some point).
  他学了中文 (specific completion)

  Experiential: at some point, the experience occurred.

• 我吃过寿司。(Wǒ chī guo shòusī.) — I've eaten sushi (before).
  我吃了寿司 (specific instance — 'I ate the sushi')

  过 = generic experience. 了 = specific event.

Examples

• 我在吃饭。(Wǒ zài chī fàn.) — I'm eating.
  我吃饭在 (English-style at-end)

  在 + Verb. Progressive marker BEFORE the verb.

• 他正在看电视。(Tā zhèngzài kàn diànshì.) — He's watching TV (right now).
  他看电视正在

  正在 emphasizes 'right at this moment'. Position: before verb.

• 我在写作业呢。(Wǒ zài xiě zuòyè ne.) — I'm doing homework (you see).
  我在写作业了 (combining 在 with 了 — incorrect)

  Sentence-final 呢 emphasizes the ongoing nature. 在 doesn't combine with 了.

Examples

• 门开着。(Mén kāi zhe.) — The door is open. (state)
  门在开 (less natural — would be 'the door is opening')

  着 marks the state of being open; 在 would mark the action of opening.

• 我站着。(Wǒ zhàn zhe.) — I'm standing. (posture)
  我在站 (sounds like 'I'm in the act of standing up')

  Posture verbs naturally take 着 for the continuing posture state.

• 他穿着红衣服。(Tā chuān zhe hóng yīfu.) — He's wearing a red shirt.
  他在穿红衣服 (in the act of putting on)

  穿着 = in the state of wearing. 在穿 = in the act of putting on.

Examples

• 我要走了。(Wǒ yào zǒu le.) — I'm about to leave / I'm leaving.
  我要走 (without 了 — could mean 'I want to leave / I'll leave')

  了 marks the imminent / about-to nuance. Without 了, just future intent.

• 火车要来了。(Huǒchē yào lái le.) — The train is about to arrive.
  火车要来

  Imminent future requires both 要 and 了₂.

• 快要下雨了。(Kuài yào xià yǔ le.) — It's about to rain.
  下雨了 (just 'it's raining now' — change of state, but not imminent future)

  快要 + V + 了 = imminent. Without 快要, 下雨了 means rain has started.

Examples

• 我睡了八个小时觉。(Wǒ shuì le bā ge xiǎoshí jiào.) — I slept for 8 hours.
  我睡觉了八个小时。

  Duration goes BETWEEN 睡 and 觉: 睡 + 了 + 八个小时 + 觉.

• 我跟他见面。(Wǒ gēn tā jiànmiàn.) — I meet with him.
  我见面他。

  Cannot take direct object. Use coverb 跟 + person.

• 我帮你的忙。(Wǒ bāng nǐ de máng.) — I help you.
  我帮忙你。

  The real object (you) modifies the cognate object 忙 with 的: 帮 + 你的 + 忙.

Examples

• 你看看这个。(Nǐ kànkan zhège.) — Take a look at this.
  你看一下这个 (also correct, with 一下 'briefly')

  看看 = 'have a look'. Common alternative: V + 一下 = V briefly. Both work.

• 让我想想。(Ràng wǒ xiǎngxiang.) — Let me think.
  让我想 (more abrupt)

  想想 softens 'think' to 'think it over briefly'.

• 我们去看一看! (Wǒmen qù kàn yi kàn!) — Let's go have a look!
  我们去看看一看

  V一V form: V + 一 + V (one 一, not multiple).

Examples

• 我给你一本书。(Wǒ gěi nǐ yì běn shū.) — I give you a book.
  我给一本书你。

  Verb 'give': Subject + 给 + Recipient + Object. The recipient comes immediately after 给.

• 我给他打电话。(Wǒ gěi tā dǎ diànhuà.) — I'm calling him / I'll call him.
  我打电话给他 (Southern / non-standard for mainland HSK)

  Coverb 给 + Recipient + Verb + Object. Standard mainland form puts 给-phrase before the verb.

• 我给他做饭。(Wǒ gěi tā zuò fàn.) — I cook for him.
  我做饭给他

  Beneficiary 'for' use. 给 + Person before main verb.

Examples

• 我让他来。(Wǒ ràng tā lái.) — I'll have him come / I'll let him come.
  我让来他

  Pivot structure: Subject + 让 + Pivot (他) + V₂ (来). Pivot is between the two verbs.

• 妈妈叫我吃饭。(Māma jiào wǒ chī fàn.) — Mom told me to eat.
  妈妈叫吃饭我

  Pivot 我 between 叫 and 吃饭.

• 我请你吃饭。(Wǒ qǐng nǐ chī fàn.) — I invite you to dinner.
  我吃饭请你

  请 + Person + V₂. The pivot 你 must be between.

Examples

• 我来中国学中文。(Wǒ lái Zhōngguó xué Zhōngwén.) — I came to China to study Chinese. (Speaker is in China.)
  我去中国学中文 (if speaker is in China — would be wrong)

  If the speaker is currently in China, 来 (motion toward here). If in another country, 去.

• 你去哪儿? (Nǐ qù nǎr?) — Where are you going?
  你来哪儿? (sounds like 'where are you coming?')

  去 for outgoing motion. 来 + 哪儿 is rare and usually marked.

• 他来看我。(Tā lái kàn wǒ.) — He came to see me.
  他去看我 (he's going to see me — speaker is away, 来 is more appropriate from speaker's POV)

  来 + V (purpose): the visit is at the speaker's location.

Examples

• 我对他说。(Wǒ duì tā shuō.) — I said to him.
  我说对他

  对 + Target + Verb. Coverb before main verb.

• 我对中国感兴趣。(Wǒ duì Zhōngguó gǎn xìngqù.) — I'm interested in China.
  我感兴趣对中国

  对 + Topic + 感兴趣.

• 我用筷子吃饭。(Wǒ yòng kuàizi chī fàn.) — I eat with chopsticks.
  我吃饭用筷子

  用 + Instrument + Verb.

Examples

• 我很高兴。(Wǒ hěn gāoxìng.) — I'm happy. (default affirmative)
  我是高兴 / 我高兴 (sounds contrastive)

  Default needs 很. 我高兴 alone implies contrast.

• 天气很冷。(Tiānqì hěn lěng.) — The weather is cold.
  天气是冷 / 天气冷 (contrastive)

  Adjective predicate with default 很.

• 这本书很好。(Zhè běn shū hěn hǎo.) — This book is good.
  这本书是好

  No 是 with adjectives.

Examples

• 漂亮的衣服 (piàoliang de yīfu) — pretty clothes
  漂亮衣服

  Multi-syllable adjective requires 的.

• 干净的房间 (gānjìng de fángjiān) — clean room
  干净房间

  Multi-syllable adjective with 的.

• 好朋友 (hǎo péngyou) — good friend
  好的朋友 (acceptable but less idiomatic for this fixed compound)

  Monosyllabic 好 + Noun in fixed compound: 的 typically dropped.

Examples

• 高高的山 (gāogāo de shān) — a (vividly) tall mountain
  很高的山 (just 'a very tall mountain' — less vivid)

  AA + 的 makes the description more vivid / pictorial.

• 她有长长的头发。(Tā yǒu chángcháng de tóufa.) — She has (vividly) long hair.
  她有长头发 (just 'long hair')

  AA + 的 attributive — affective description.

• 你慢慢走。(Nǐ mànman zǒu.) — Walk slowly.
  你慢走 (different — set greeting 'take care')

  Reduplicated 慢慢 as adverbial. Note 慢走 is a fixed parting expression, not the same.

Examples

• 我看完了那本书。(Wǒ kàn wán le nà běn shū.) — I finished that book.
  我看了那本书 (just 'read' — doesn't specify finishing)

  完 specifies completion. 看了 alone could be partial reading.

• 饭做好了。(Fàn zuò hǎo le.) — The food is ready / done well.
  饭做了 (just 'cooked' — less specific about being ready)

  好 specifies completion + quality / readiness.

• 我看见了他。(Wǒ kàn jiàn le tā.) — I saw him.
  我看了他 (just 'looked at him' — without 见 doesn't confirm perception)

  见 confirms successful perception (involuntary sight).

Examples

• 他走来了。(Tā zǒu lái le.) — He came walking.
  他走去了 (would mean 'he walked away')

  来 indicates toward speaker; 去 away. The 了 marks completion of arrival.

• 请拿书来。(Qǐng ná shū lái.) — Please bring the book here.
  请来拿书 (different — 'come to take the book')

  拿 + Object + 来. The book travels toward the speaker.

• 我带朋友来。(Wǒ dài péngyou lái.) — I'm bringing a friend (here).
  我带来朋友 (acceptable in modern usage with 来 / 去 as preverbal directionals — slightly different focus)

  带 + Object + 来 — the object precedes 来.

Examples

• 我说得很好。(Wǒ shuō de hěn hǎo.) — I speak (it) very well.
  我得说很好 / 我说很好得

  Position: V + 得 + Complement. 得 sits immediately after the verb.

• 他跑得很快。(Tā pǎo de hěn kuài.) — He runs very fast.
  他跑很快 (just 'he runs fast' as predicate — works but different grammar)

  V + 得 + Adj structure for manner. The 很 intensifies the manner.

• 我吃得很饱。(Wǒ chī de hěn bǎo.) — I'm very full (from eating).
  我吃饱了 (state-change with 了 — different but related)

  V + 得 + Adj for degree / result. Note: 我吃饱了 with 了 marks change of state, slightly different focus.

Examples

• 这是我的书。(Zhè shì wǒ de shū.) — This is my book.
  这是我书 (would be 'this is me-book' — odd; possessive 的 needed for non-kinship)

  Possessive: Pronoun + 的 + N for non-kinship, non-close-relation nouns.

• 我妈妈是老师。(Wǒ māma shì lǎoshī.) — My mom is a teacher.
  我的妈妈是老师 (acceptable but stiff for kinship)

  Kinship: 的 typically dropped. 我妈妈 is more natural than 我的妈妈.

• 我们学校很大。(Wǒmen xuéxiào hěn dà.) — Our school is big.
  我们的学校很大 (acceptable but wordier)

  Affiliation: 的 often dropped.

Examples

• 他高兴地说。(Tā gāoxìng de shuō.) — He said happily.
  他高兴说 (sounds incomplete; 地 typically required for multi-syllable adj)

  Multi-syllable adjective adverbial: 地 needed in standard speech.

• 请慢慢地走。(Qǐng mànman de zǒu.) — Please walk slowly.
  请慢慢走 (also acceptable — casual, drops 地)

  Reduplicated adjective: 地 optional. Both 慢慢地走 and 慢慢走 are common.

• 他认真地学习中文。(Tā rènzhēn de xuéxí Zhōngwén.) — He studies Chinese seriously.
  他认真学习中文 (acceptable but less formal)

  Multi-syllable adverbial 认真 + 地. The 地 makes it more formal / explicit.

Examples

• A: 我很好。B: 你呢? (Wǒ hěn hǎo. Nǐ ne?) — A: I'm good. B: And you?
  B: 你吗? (Are you? — sounds incomplete)

  Echo question with topic + 呢. The full repeat is implicit: '(How about) you?'

• 我的书呢? (Wǒ de shū ne?) — Where's my book?
  我的书是哪里? (more elaborate)

  Topic reprise: 'Where is X?' as a short form using 呢.

• 我在吃饭呢。(Wǒ zài chī fàn ne.) — I'm eating (as we speak).
  我在吃饭吗? (would be 'Am I eating?' — wrong meaning)

  Progressive softener — adds 'as we speak' / 'you know' flavor without making it a question.

Examples

• 我们走吧。(Wǒmen zǒu ba.) — Let's go.
  我们走 (more abrupt — 'let's go' as a command)

  吧 softens to a suggestion. Without 吧, it's a direct imperative.

• 你来吧! (Nǐ lái ba!) — Come on / Why don't you come!
  你来! (more direct / less inviting)

  Soft suggestion. 吧 makes it inviting rather than commanding.

• 试试吧。(Shìshi ba.) — Give it a try.
  试试 (acceptable but less inviting)

  Reduplicated verb + 吧 — extra-polite suggestion.

Examples

• 是啊! (Shì a!) — Yeah! / That's right!
  是吗?

  啊 = affirmation / agreement. 吗 would be a question.

• 好啊! (Hǎo a!) — Sure! / OK!
  好 (just 'good' — colder)

  啊 adds enthusiasm / warmth to acceptance.

• 真漂亮啊! (Zhēn piàoliang a!) — So pretty!
  真漂亮 (less expressive)

  Exclamation softener — adds emotional warmth.

Examples

• 一条鱼 (yì tiáo yú) — a fish
  一只鱼 (acceptable casually but 条 is canonical)

  Long-thin shape: 条 is the conventional MW for fish, snakes, ropes.

• 三条裤子 (sān tiáo kùzi) — three pairs of pants
  三件裤子 (件 is for clothing in general, but 裤子 specifically takes 条 due to its long shape)

  Pants are long and slim — 条.

• 一头牛 (yì tóu niú) — a cow
  一只牛 (small-animal MW; sounds wrong for cattle)

  Large livestock = 头.

Examples

• 好一点儿 (hǎo yìdiǎnr) — a little better
  一点儿好

  Adj + 一点儿. Position is fixed.

• 有点儿冷 (yǒudiǎnr lěng) — somewhat cold (uncomfortable)
  冷有点儿

  有点儿 + Adj. Position is fixed.

• 请慢一点儿。(Qǐng màn yìdiǎnr.) — Please slow down a little.
  请有点儿慢 (would mean 'please be somewhat slow' — odd)

  Comparative / suggestion = 一点儿 after Adj.

Examples

• 我比他高。(Wǒ bǐ tā gāo.) — I'm taller than him.
  我比他很高。

  Don't use 很 in 比 sentences. The bare adjective 高 is correct after 比 + B.

• 这本书比那本贵。(Zhè běn shū bǐ nà běn guì.) — This book is more expensive than that one.
  这本书比那本很贵

  Drop 很.

• 今天比昨天冷。(Jīntiān bǐ zuótiān lěng.) — Today is colder than yesterday.
  今天比昨天很冷

  Same rule.

Examples

• 我没有他高。(Wǒ méiyǒu tā gāo.) — I'm not as tall as him.
  我比他不高 (would be 'I'm not taller than him' — different)

  Comparative 'less than': A + 没有 + B + Adj. The standard 'not as tall as' form.

• 这本书没有那本贵。(Zhè běn shū méiyǒu nà běn guì.) — This book isn't as expensive as that one.
  这本书没有那本很贵

  Drop 很.

• 我没有他那么聪明。(Wǒ méiyǒu tā nàme cōngmíng.) — I'm not as smart as him.
  我没有他这么聪明 (这么 here is also OK, but 那么 is more standard with 没有)

  那么 emphasizes the comparison.

Examples

• 我跟他一样高。(Wǒ gēn tā yíyàng gāo.) — I'm as tall as him.
  我跟他高一样 / 我跟他一样很高

  一样 + Adj order. No 很.

• 这本书跟那本一样贵。(Zhè běn shū gēn nà běn yíyàng guì.) — This book is as expensive as that one.
  这本书跟那本贵一样

  Adj follows 一样.

• 我跟他一样。(Wǒ gēn tā yíyàng.) — I'm the same as him / Same here.
  我和他一样 (also OK — 和 more written, 跟 more spoken)

  跟 / 和 are interchangeable here.

Examples

• 桌子上有一本书。(Zhuōzi shàng yǒu yì běn shū.) — There's a book on the table.
  一本书在桌子上 (acceptable but with different focus — 'the book is on the table')

  Existential 有: Place + 有 + Indefinite Object. The book is presented as new information.

• 屋子里有人。(Wūzi lǐ yǒu rén.) — There are people in the room / Someone's in the room.
  屋子里在人

  Existential 有 for general / indefinite presence.

• 学校前面有一家咖啡店。(Xuéxiào qiánmiàn yǒu yì jiā kāfēi diàn.) — There's a coffee shop in front of the school.
  一家咖啡店在学校前面 (acceptable with different focus)

  Place + 有 + Quantified Indefinite NP.

Examples

• 因为下雨, 所以我没去。(Yīnwèi xià yǔ, suǒyǐ wǒ méi qù.) — Because it rained, I didn't go.
  我没去, 所以下雨 (reverses cause/effect — wrong meaning)

  因为 introduces cause; 所以 introduces result. Order matters.

• 因为他生病了, 所以他在家休息。(Yīnwèi tā shēngbìng le, suǒyǐ tā zài jiā xiūxi.) — Because he's sick, he's resting at home.
  所以他生病了, 因为他在家休息

  因为 + Reason first, 所以 + Result second.

• 我因为忙, 所以没去。(Wǒ yīnwèi máng, suǒyǐ méi qù.) — Because I'm busy, I didn't go. (subject before 因为)
  Just 'because-busy', without subject linking — both halves should mention me

  Subject can be at front of either clause; 因为 attaches to subordinate clause.

Examples

• 虽然下雨, 但是我们去了。(Suīrán xià yǔ, dànshì wǒmen qù le.) — Although it rained, we went anyway.
  Causal reading

  Concessive: 虽然 admits the rain, 但是 introduces the unexpected action of going.

• 虽然他很忙, 但是他每天学习。(Suīrán tā hěn máng, dànshì tā měitiān xuéxí.) — Although he's busy, he studies every day.
  Confusing with 因为

  Despite-form. 因为 would mean 'because he's busy, he studies' — different and odd.

• 虽然这本书很贵, 但是我喜欢。(Suīrán zhè běn shū hěn guì, dànshì wǒ xǐhuān.) — Although this book is expensive, I like it.
  Subjects of two clauses are different — that's fine in Mandarin

  Concession + counter. Different subjects allowed.

Examples

• 我和我哥哥都去。(Wǒ hé wǒ gēge dōu qù.) — My brother and I are both going.
  我和去, 我哥哥也去 (mixing levels)

  和 connects nouns (我 and 我哥哥); 都 emphasizes 'both'.

• 苹果和橘子都很好吃。(Píngguǒ hé júzi dōu hěn hǎochī.) — Apples and oranges are both delicious.
  我吃苹果和橘子很好吃 (mixed)

  Coordinate nouns as the subject; 都 + Adj for 'both very...'.

• 我跟我朋友一起去。(Wǒ gēn wǒ péngyou yìqǐ qù.) — I go with my friend.
  我和我朋友一起 (acceptable but 跟 more colloquial)

  Comitative use with 一起. 跟 / 和 both work; 跟 is more spoken.

Examples

• 我也去。(Wǒ yě qù.) — I'm also going.
  我去也

  也 BEFORE the verb. English 'too' goes at the end; Mandarin 也 goes before V.

• 他还在睡觉。(Tā hái zài shuìjiào.) — He's still sleeping.
  他在睡觉还

  还 before V. Continuation meaning.

• 我们都是学生。(Wǒmen dōu shì xuésheng.) — We're all students.
  我们是都学生

  都 between subject and V. Universal scope.

Examples

• 我是第一名。(Wǒ shì dì-yī míng.) — I'm in first place.
  我是一名 (just 'one place' — different meaning)

  Ordinal 第一 = 1st. 一名 alone (no 第) = 'one (named)' or doesn't make ordinal sense.

• 他是第二个人。(Tā shì dì-èr ge rén.) — He's the second person.
  他是第两个人

  Ordinals always 二, never 两.

• 这是第三本书。(Zhè shì dì-sān běn shū.) — This is the third book.
  这是三本书 (would mean 'these are three books')

  Ordinal 第三 + MW + N. Without 第, it's a count.

Examples

• 一千 (yì qiān) — 1,000
  千 alone (without 一)

  Always 一千, not bare 千. The 一 is mandatory.

• 一万 (yí wàn) — 10,000
  Western: 'ten thousand' as 十千 (wrong)

  10,000 is one 万, not 'ten thousand'. Different grouping.

• 十万 (shí wàn) — 100,000
  一百千 (wrong — Mandarin doesn't have 'hundred thousand' as a unit)

  100,000 = 10 × 10,000 = 十万. Mandarin grouping by 4 digits.