Chinese grammar / 486 topics
Chinese grammar · page 7
Find a sentence pattern, read how it works, and practise it with Chinese examples, pinyin and English translations.
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好像 hǎoxiàng
好像 (Hǎoxiàng): Expressing Seems and Tentative Impressions
Use 好像 before a description or clause to express an impression, uncertainty, or a conclusion that is not fully confirmed.
以为 yǐwéi
以为 (Yǐwéi): An Assumption That Turns Out to Be Wrong
Express mistaken assumptions with 以为 and understand its use in corrections, surprises, and warnings about what someone believes.
经过 jīngguò
经过 (Jīngguò): Passing Through and Going Through a Process
Use 经过 for passing a place and for the experience, preparation, or period that precedes an outcome in Chinese.
通过 tōngguò
通过 (Tōngguò): Passing, Approval, and Achieving Through a Method
Understand 通过 as a verb meaning pass and as a preposition introducing the channel or method used to achieve a result.
来自 láizì
来自 (Láizì): Stating an Origin or Source in Chinese
Use 来自 to say where people and things originate, and to identify the source of an idea, suggestion, or influence.
算 suàn
算 (Suàn): Counting as Something and Making a Judgment
Use 算 with nouns and descriptions to assess whether something qualifies, and recognize the more qualified tone of 算是.
来 lái
我来 and 你来: Using 来 to Say Who Will Do It
Use 来 as a stand-in for an understood task when offering to act, assigning a turn, or asking someone to try.
不用 bùyòng
不用 (Bùyòng): Saying There Is No Need to Do Something
Use 不用 before a verb to remove a necessity, offer reassurance, or explain an exemption, and distinguish it from 不要.
得 děi
得 (Děi): Must and Have To in Spoken Chinese
Express practical necessity with 得 pronounced děi, and distinguish this modal verb from the complement particle de.
少 shǎo
少 (Shǎo) Before Verbs: Do Less or Cut Back
Place 少 before an action to suggest doing less, reducing an amount, or cutting back on a habit in Chinese.
多 duō
多 (Duō) Before Verbs: Do More or More Often
Use 多 before an action to recommend a greater amount or frequency, with common patterns using 点 and 一点.
正在…呢 zhèngzài…ne
Actions in Progress: 在, 正在, 着, and 呢 in Chinese
Understand common ongoing-action patterns with 在, 正在, 着, and sentence-final 呢 without assuming every marker is required.
不怎么、没怎么 bù zěnme, méi zěnme
不怎么 and 没怎么: Not Often or Not Much
Use 不怎么 for infrequent habits and 没怎么 for limited past activity, with the negative phrase before the verb.
到 dào
到 (Dào) After a Verb: Continuing Until a Time or Event
Mark an action’s endpoint with verb + 到, and learn when to repeat a verb that already has an object.
次、遍、下 cì, biàn, xià
次, 遍, and 下: Counting Actions in Chinese
Count occurrences, complete repetitions, and brief actions using the Chinese verbal measure words 次, 遍, and 下.
离合词 líhécí
Separable Verbs in Chinese: Verb-Object Phrases and Word Order
Understand separable Chinese verbs, including where aspect markers and counted actions go and how to introduce another participant.
给 gěi
Verb + 给: Placing a Recipient After a Chinese Verb
Learn recipient placement after verbs such as 送 and 递, using verb + 给 + recipient and related object-first patterns.
给 gěi
给 Before Verbs: Naming the Target of an Action
Use 给 + target before verbs for calling, writing, replying, and other actions directed at a person in Chinese.
来、去 lái, qù
Chinese Direction Complements: 来, 去, and Compound Directions
Learn how 来 and 去 mark movement relative to a viewpoint, and combine them with directional verbs such as 上, 下, and 出.
起来 qǐlai
起来 (Qǐlai): Upward Movement, Starting, and Impressions
Understand literal and extended uses of 起来 after verbs, including upward motion, an action beginning, and sensory impressions.
结果补语 jiéguǒ bǔyǔ
Chinese Result Complements: What an Action Achieves
Use result complements such as 好, 完, 错, and 饱 to distinguish performing an action from reaching its result.
下去 xiàqu
下去 (Xiàqu): Continuing an Action in Chinese
Use verb + 下去 to keep an activity going in Chinese, and verb + 不下去 to explain that you cannot continue it.
所有 suǒyǒu
所有 (Suǒyǒu): All, All Of, and Not All in Chinese
Build noun phrases with 所有, combine them with 都, and distinguish not all from none when placing the negative.
之一 zhī yī
之一 (Zhī Yī): Saying One Of in Chinese
Use 之一 after a group noun phrase to identify one member, including one of the best and one of the reasons.
另、另外 lìng, lìngwài
另 and 另外: Another, the Other, and the Remaining Ones
Use 另 or 另外 before a quantity phrase to identify another item or the remaining members of a known group.
不是…吗 bù shì…ma
Chinese Rhetorical Questions: 不是…吗 and 怎么会
Recognize common rhetorical question patterns used to remind, challenge, or express disbelief rather than request new information.
是…的 shì…de
是…的 for Past Details: Emphasizing When, How, or With Whom
Use 是…的 to focus on details of an established event, including its time, place, method, or participants.
是…的 shì…de
是…的 for Purpose: What Someone Came for or Something Is Used for
Explain intentions and intended functions in Chinese with 是来…的, 是去…的, 是用来…的, and related purpose patterns.
是…的 shì…de
是…的 Patterns: Details, Classification, Purpose, and Emphasis
Distinguish the main Chinese 是…的 patterns by meaning, including omitted nouns, event details, intended uses, and firm assertions.
话题 huàtí
Chinese Topic-Comment Sentences: Put the Topic First
Understand how Chinese introduces a topic before commenting on it, including objects moved ahead of a separate subject.
被 bèi
被 (Bèi) Sentences: Chinese Passive Voice and Affected Subjects
Build Chinese passive sentences with 被, place the affected participant first, and decide whether to name the doer.
着、是 zhe, shì
Existential Sentences with 着 and 是: Describing What Is Somewhere
Start with a place to describe what is standing, lying, or located there, using existential patterns with 着 or 是.
想…就… xiǎng…jiù…
想…就…: Doing Whatever You Want in Chinese
Use 想…就… to permit an action or express freedom of choice, including repeated question words for whatever and wherever.
不是不 bù shì bù
Double Negatives in Chinese: 不是不 and 不可能不
Interpret Chinese double negatives by scope, including rejecting a negative claim, unavoidable actions, and statements about everyone.
连…都… lián…dōu…
连…都…: Saying Even in Chinese
Highlight an unexpected person, thing, or event with 连…都…, including correct placement when the focused phrase is an object.
每次…都… měi cì…dōu…
每次…都…: Saying Every Time in Chinese
Describe a consistent reaction or repeated outcome with 每次…都…, including sentences where the two events have different subjects.
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