Chinese grammar, topic by topic
Chinese grammar by topic, from 了 and measure words to the 把 sentence and chengyu. Each topic gives a short summary in English, then the lessons on it from A0 up, with examples in characters and pinyin and exercises with answers. Prefer to go level by level? See all Chinese lessons by level.
了 (le) in Chinese, explained4 lessons · A1–B2. 了 (le) is the most talked-about word in Chinese grammar, because it does two jobs.的, 地 and 得: the three de4 lessons · A1–B2. 的, 地 and 得 are all said de, with a neutral tone.Chinese measure words3 lessons · A1–A2. In Chinese you can't put a number straight before a noun.The 把 (bǎ) sentence, explained2 lessons · A2–B1. 把 brings the object before the verb, to say what you did to a definite thing and how it ended up: 我把书放在桌子上 (I put the book on the table).被 (bèi) and the passive in Chinese2 lessons · B1–B2. 被 makes a passive sentence: the thing affected comes first, then 被, then (if you mention them) whoever did it, then the verb: 我的手机被偷了 (my phone was stolen).是…的 (shì…de): when, where and how2 lessons · A2–B2. 是…的 is for the details of something that has already happened: when, where, how or with whom.Comparisons with 比 (bǐ)3 lessons · A2–B2. To compare in Chinese, put 比 between the two things and the adjective after: 他比我高 (he's taller than me).过 (guò) and 着 (zhe): experience and ongoing states3 lessons · A2–B2. 过 after a verb says you've done something at some time in your life: 我去过北京 (I've been to Beijing).Chinese complements: result, direction and potential5 lessons · A2–B1. A complement is a second word after the verb that says how the action turned out: 看完 (finish reading), 听懂 (understand what you hear), 找到 (find).Questions in Chinese: 吗, question words and particles6 lessons · A0–C1. Chinese questions keep the word order of the answer.不 (bù) or 没 (méi): negation in Chinese3 lessons · A1–B2. Chinese has two everyday words for 'not'.Chinese conjunctions: because, although, if9 lessons · A2–B2. Chinese often links ideas in pairs: one word in the first half of the sentence and its partner in the second, like 因为…所以 (because… so) and 虽然…但是 (although… but).Chengyu: Chinese four-character idioms3 lessons · B1–C1. Chengyu (成语) are fixed expressions, nearly always four characters long, many from old stories.Chinese numbers, dates and time5 lessons · A0–B2. Chinese numbers are regular: 十一 is 'ten one', 二十 'two ten'.Chinese tones and pinyin3 lessons · A0. Mandarin has four tones and a neutral tone, and the tone is part of the word: mā (mother), má (hemp), mǎ (horse) and mà (to scold) are four different words.