HSK 3 grammar

HSK 3 is where Chinese sentences get longer. The big new structures are 把 and 被 sentences, result and potential complements (听懂, 看不见), 越来越, and a set of conditional patterns: 只要…就…, 只有…才…, 如果…就….

Each page explains one point, with examples you can listen to, common mistakes and a three-question quiz. The points follow the grammar list in the 2025 HSK syllabus, grouped into the patterns you actually use.

1. 1 把 把: doing something to an object 把 moves the object before the verb to say what happens to it: 我把书放在桌子上.
2. 2 被 被: passive sentences 被 puts the thing affected first: 我的手机被弟弟拿走了. Often used for unwanted events.
3. 3 越来越 / 越…越… 越来越 and 越…越…: more and more 越来越 = more and more: 天越来越冷. 越 A 越 B = the more A, the more B.
4. 4 只要…就… 只要…就…: as long as 只要 A 就 B = as long as A, B will follow: 只要你努力，就能学好.
5. 5 只有…才… 只有…才…: only if 只有 A 才 B = only if A, then B: 只有多练习，才能说好.
6. 6 如果…就… / …的话 如果…就… and …的话: if 如果 A 就 B = if A, then B. 的话 at the end of the condition also means “if”.
7. 7 不但…而且… 不但…而且…: not only… but also… 不但 A 而且 B = not only A but also B. B is the stronger or further point.
8. 8 除了…以外 除了…以外: apart from, except 除了…还/也 = besides (adding); 除了…都 = except (excluding).
9. 9 一边…一边… 一边…一边…: doing two things at once 一边 A 一边 B = do A while doing B: 他一边吃饭一边看电视.
10. 10 又…又… 又…又…: both… and… 又 A 又 B links two qualities or actions: 又便宜又好吃.
11. 11 先…再 / 然后… 先…再 / 然后…: first… then… 先 A 再 B or 先 A 然后 B: first do A, then B.
12. 12 为了 为了: in order to 为了 + goal = in order to: 为了学好汉语，他每天练习.
13. 13 得 / 不 (可能补语) Can or can’t: 听得懂, 看不见 得 or 不 between a verb and its result says whether it’s possible: 听得懂, 看不见.
14. 14 到 / 住 / 走 / 上 More results: 找到, 记住, 拿走, 关上 到 = reached a goal, 住 = held firmly, 走 = taken away, 上 = closed or attached.
15. 15 起来 / 下去 / 出来 起来, 下去, 出来: start, keep going, figure out 起来 = start (笑起来), 下去 = carry on (说下去), 出来 = work out (想出来).
16. 16 才 / 就 才 or 就: late or early 才 = later or harder than expected; 就 = earlier or easier than expected.
17. 17 又 / 再 又 or 再: again 又 = again, already happened (他又迟到了); 再 = again, in the future (明天再来).
18. 18 跟…一样 A 跟 B 一样: the same as A 跟 B 一样 = A is the same as B; add an adjective for “as … as”: 他跟我一样高.
19. 19 极了 / 得很 极了, 得很: extremely Put 极了 or 得很 after an adjective for “extremely”: 好极了, 冷得很.
20. 20 什么都 / 谁都 / 哪儿都 什么都, 谁都, 哪儿都: everything, anyone, anywhere Question word + 都 means “every…”, and with a negative, “no…”: 我什么都不想吃.
21. 21 一点儿也不 / 一…也没 一点儿也不 / 一…也没: not at all 一点儿也不冷 = not cold at all; 一个人也没来 = not a single person came.
22. 22 应该 / 得 / 必须 应该, 得, 必须: should, have to, must 应该 should; 得 (děi) have to (spoken); 必须 must. Negatives: 不应该, 不用.
23. 23 好像 / 看起来 好像 and 看起来: it seems 好像 = it seems, as if: 他好像生病了. 看起来 = looks: 你看起来很累.
24. 24 或者 或者: or (in statements) In statements, “or” is 或者: 坐地铁或者打车都可以. In questions, use 还是.
25. 25 不是…吗 不是…吗？: isn’t it…? 不是…吗？ is a rhetorical question showing surprise or reminding: 你不是去北京了吗？
26. 26 存现句 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.