Chinese grammar, HSK 1 to 6
70 patterns from HSK 1 to 6, explained for English speakers. Every example uses only vocabulary from that level.
HSK 1
| Pronouns and 是 (to be) | Subject + 是 + Noun |
| 很 + adjective (describing things) | Subject + 很 + Adjective |
| Yes/no questions with 吗 | Statement + 吗？ |
| Negation with 不 | Subject + 不 + Verb / Adjective |
| Possession with 的 | Owner + 的 + Noun |
| Question words 什么, 谁, 哪儿 | Statement with the question word in the answer's slot |
| Measure words: 个, 本, 块 | Number + Measure word + Noun |
| Numbers, 几 and 多少 | 几 + Measure word + Noun / 多少 + (Measure word) + Noun |
| Having: 有 and 没有 | Subject + 有 / 没有 + Noun |
| Location with 在 | Subject + 在 + Place (+ Verb) |
| Follow-up questions with 呢 | Noun / Pronoun + 呢？ |
| Time words and word order | Subject + Time + Verb + Object / Time + Subject + Verb + Object |
| Completed actions with 了 | Subject + Verb + 了 + Object / Sentence + 了 |
| Wanting to do something with 想 | Subject + 想 + Verb + Object |
| Ability with 会 and 能 | Subject + 会 / 能 + Verb |
HSK 2
| 也 (also, too) | Subject + 也 + Verb / Adjective |
| Suggestions and softening with 吧 | Statement + 吧 |
| Past experience with 过 | Subject + Verb + 过 + Object |
| Actions in progress with 正在 | Subject + 正在 / 在 + Verb + Object |
| Comparisons with 比 | A + 比 + B + Adjective |
| 每…都 (every ... all) | 每 + Measure word / Time word + (Noun) + 都 + Verb |
| From ... to ... with 从…到 | 从 + A + 到 + B |
| Distance with 离 | A + 离 + B + 很近 / 很远 |
| Because ... so ... with 因为…所以 | 因为 + Reason，所以 + Result |
| Although ... but ... with 虽然…但是 | 虽然 + Clause，但是 + Clause |
| About to happen with 要…了 | Subject + (快)要 + Verb + 了 |
| Telling someone not to with 别 | 别 + Verb (+ 了) |
| Describing how with 得 | Verb + 得 + (很) + Adjective |
| Sooner than expected with 就 | Subject + Time + 就 + Verb (+ 了) |
| Ongoing states with 着 | Verb + 着 (+ Object) |
HSK 3
| Both ... and ... with 又…又 | 又 + Adjective + 又 + Adjective |
| More and more with 越来越 | Subject + 越来越 + Adjective (+ 了) |
| Doing two things at once with 一边…一边 | Subject + 一边 + Verb + 一边 + Verb |
| Except / besides with 除了 | 除了 + X，(都 / 也 / 还) + ... |
| If ... then ... with 如果…就 | 如果 + Condition，(Subject) + 就 + Result |
| Not only ... but also ... with 不但…而且 | 不但 + Clause，而且 + Clause |
| Emphasising details with 是…的 | Subject + 是 + Time / Place / Manner + Verb + 的 |
| Result complements: 完, 懂, 到 | Verb + Result (完 / 懂 / 到 / 见 / 好) |
| Handling an object with 把 | Subject + 把 + Object + Verb + Result |
| Passive sentences with 被 | Subject + 被 + (Agent) + Verb + Result |
HSK 4
| No matter ... with 不管…都 | 不管 + Question word / A还是B，(Subject) + 都 + ... |
| Even if ... with 即使…也 | 即使 + Supposition，(Subject) + 也 + Result |
| Since ... then ... with 既然…就 | 既然 + Known fact，(Subject) + 就 + Conclusion |
| Despite ... with 尽管…还是 / 却 | 尽管 + Fact，(Subject) + 还是 / 却 + ... |
| Even ... with 连…都 / 也 | 连 + Extreme example + 都 / 也 + Verb |
| Going as far as 甚至 | Clause，甚至 + Stronger clause |
| And so ... with 于是 | Event，于是 + (Subject) + Following action |
| Owing to ... therefore ... with 由于…因此 | 由于 + Cause，因此 + Result |
| Regarding ... with 对于 | 对于 + Topic，Subject + Comment / Subject + 对于 + Topic + Verb |
| And moreover with 并且 | Verb phrase / Clause，并且 + Verb phrase / Clause |
| Taking X as Y with 以…为… | 以 + A + 为 + B |
| Rhetorical questions with 难道…吗 | 难道 + Statement + 吗？ |
HSK 5
| Taking the chance with 趁 | 趁 + Opportunity + Verb |
| Once ... with 一旦…就 | 一旦 + Condition，(Subject) + 就 + Result |
| In case ... with 万一 | 万一 + Unwanted possibility，(就) + ... |
| Otherwise with 否则 | Advice / Condition，否则 + Bad result |
| Even if ... with 哪怕…也 | 哪怕 + Extreme case，(Subject) + 也 / 都 + ... |
| What on earth with 究竟 | Subject + 究竟 + Question |
| Rather than ... better to with 与其…不如 | 与其 + Option A，不如 + Option B |
| Would rather ... than with 宁可…也不 | 宁可 + Hard choice，也不 + Rejected choice |
| Let alone with 何况 | Clause A，(更)何况 + Clause B (呢) |
| Thereby with 从而 | Means / Cause，从而 + Result |
HSK 6
| Supposing with 倘若 | 倘若 + Condition，(Subject) + 就 / 便 + Result |
| So as to avoid with 以免 | Precaution，以免 + Unwanted result |
| Admittedly ... but with 固然…可是 | Subject + 固然 + ...，可是 / 但 / 也 + ... |
| Inevitably with 不免 | Cause，Subject + 不免 + Verb / Adjective |
| Rather too ... with 未免 | Subject + 未免 + 太 / 有点儿 + Adjective (+ 了) |
| Is bound to with 势必 | Cause，Subject + 势必 + Verb |
| To the extent that with 以至 | Cause，以至(于) + Resulting situation |
| Not so much A as B with 与其说…不如说 | 与其说 + A，不如说 + B |