HSK 3 grammar · new HSK syllabus
Something appears: 前面来了一个人
To say something appears or disappears, start with the place: 前面来了一辆车.
Structure
- Place / time + verb + result / direction + 了 + number + noun
How it works
When a new person or thing appears somewhere, Chinese starts with the place and puts the new thing after the verb: 前面来了一辆车 = a car came along ahead.
The same pattern describes disappearance: 我们班走了两个学生 = two students left our class.
The new thing is usually indefinite and has a number: 一个人, 两只猫.
Examples
-
前面来了一辆公交车。
Qiánmiàn lái le yí liàng gōngjiāochē.
A bus is coming.
-
我们班来了一个新同学。
Wǒmen bān lái le yí gè xīn tóngxué.
A new classmate has joined our class.
-
家里少了一个杯子。
Jiā lǐ shǎo le yí gè bēizi.
A cup is missing from the house.
-
外面跑进来一只小狗。
Wàimiàn pǎo jìnlái yì zhī xiǎo gǒu.
A puppy ran in from outside.
-
昨天搬走了两家邻居。
Zuótiān bān zǒu le liǎng jiā línjū.
Two of the neighbours moved out yesterday.
Words in these examples (26)
| 前面 | qiánmiàn | in front; ahead | HSK 2 |
| 来 | lái | to come | HSK 1 |
| 了 | le | (particle marking a completed action or a change) | HSK 1 |
| 一 | yī | one | HSK 1 |
| 辆 | liàng | (measure word for vehicles) | HSK 3 |
| 公交车 | gōngjiāochē | bus | HSK 2 |
| 我们 | wǒmen | we; us | HSK 1 |
| 班 | bān | class (group of students); shift | HSK 2 |
| 个 | gè | (general measure word) | HSK 1 |
| 新 | xīn | new | HSK 1 |
| 同学 | tóngxué | classmate | HSK 1 |
| 家 | jiā | home; family; (measure word for shops and companies) | HSK 1 |
| 里 | lǐ | inside; in | HSK 1 |
| 少 | shǎo | few; little; less | HSK 1 |
| 杯子 | bēizi | cup; glass | HSK 1 |
| 外面 | wàimiàn | outside | HSK 2 |
| 跑 | pǎo | to run | HSK 2 |
| 进来 | jìnlái | to come in | HSK 2 |
| 只 | zhī | (measure word for animals, and one of a pair) | HSK 1 |
| 小 | xiǎo | small; little; young | HSK 1 |
| 狗 | gǒu | dog | HSK 1 |
| 昨天 | zuótiān | yesterday | HSK 1 |
| 搬 | bān | to move; to carry | HSK 3 |
| 走 | zǒu | to walk; to leave | HSK 2 |
| 两 | liǎng | two (before a measure word) | HSK 1 |
| 邻居 | línjū | neighbour | HSK 3 |
Common mistakes
-
✗一个新同学来了我们班。
✓我们班来了一个新同学。
A new, indefinite person goes after the verb.
-
✗前面来一辆车了。
✓前面来了一辆车。
了 follows the verb in this pattern.
Check yourself
Choose the word that fills the gap.
1. 对面 一个人。
2. 我们公司来了 新经理。
3. 书包里少了 书。