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Here is a list of key topics in Mandarin Chinese grammar, suitable for learners:

I. Foundational Elements

  1. Pinyin and Pronunciation:
    • Initials (声母 shēngmǔ)
    • Finals (韵母 yùnmǔ)
    • Tones (声调 shēngdiào) - The four main tones + neutral tone.
    • Tone Sandhi (变调 biàndiào) - Rules for tone changes (esp. third tone).
  2. Chinese Characters (汉字 Hànzì): (While not strictly grammar, understanding structure helps with vocabulary and some grammatical points)
    • Basic Strokes
    • Radicals (部首 bùshǒu)
    • Character Structure

II. Words and Parts of Speech (词类 Cílèi)

  1. Nouns (名词 míngcí):
    • Proper Nouns vs. Common Nouns
    • Place Nouns & Time Nouns (and their use without prepositions)
    • Absence of Plural Inflection (using numbers, measure words, or context)
  2. Measure Words / Classifiers (量词 liàngcí):
    • Usage: Numeral + Measure Word + Noun
    • Common Measure Words (个, 本, 张, 只, 条, etc.)
    • Measure words for verbs (次, 遍, 趟, 顿)
  3. Pronouns (代词 dàicí):
    • Personal Pronouns (我, 你, 他/她/它, 我们, 你们, 他们/她们/它们)
    • Possessive Pronouns (我的, 你的, etc. - using 的)
    • Demonstrative Pronouns (这 zhè, 那 nà, 这儿/这里 zhèr/zhèlǐ, 那儿/那里 nàr/nàlǐ)
    • Interrogative Pronouns (谁 shéi, 什么 shénme, 哪 nǎ/něi, 哪里 nǎlǐ, 为什么 wèishénme, 怎么 zěnme, 多少 duōshao, 几 jǐ)
  4. Verbs (动词 dòngcí):
    • Action Verbs
    • Stative Verbs / Adjectival Verbs (e.g., 高 gāo, 忙 máng - function like adjectives but can be predicates)
    • Modal Verbs / Auxiliary Verbs (能愿动词 néngyuàn dòngcí - 会 huì, 能 néng, 可以 kěyǐ, 想 xiǎng, 要 yào, 应该 yīnggāi)
    • Separable Verbs (离合词 líhécí - e.g., 吃饭 chīfàn, 睡觉 shuìjiào)
    • Verbs taking objects (Transitive vs. Intransitive conceptually)
    • The verb "是" (shì) - For linking nouns, identification.
    • The verb "有" (yǒu) - For possession and existence.
  5. Adjectives (形容词 xíngróngcí):
    • As Attributives (using 的 de) - e.g., 红色的苹果 hóngsè de píngguǒ
    • As Predicates (often with 很 hěn, even if not meaning "very") - e.g., 他很高 tā hěn gāo
    • Comparison of Adjectives (using 比 bǐ, 跟...一样 gēn...yíyàng, 没有 méiyǒu)
  6. Adverbs (副词 fùcí):
    • Placement (usually before the verb/adjective)
    • Common Adverbs (很 hěn, 太 tài, 都 dōu, 也 yě, 不 bù, 没 méi, 就 jiù, 才 cái, 再 zài, 又 yòu, 最 zuì, 更 gèng)
  7. Prepositions (介词 jiècí):
    • Forming Prepositional Phrases (often function as adverbials before the verb)
    • Common Prepositions (在 zài, 从 cóng, 到 dào, 给 gěi, 跟 gēn, 对 duì, 比 bǐ, 往 wǎng, 向 xiàng, 关于 guānyú)
  8. Conjunctions (连词 liáncí):
    • Connecting words, phrases, or clauses (和 hé, 跟 gēn, 也 yě, 但是 dànshì, 可是 kěshì, 因为 yīnwèi...所以 suǒyǐ..., 如果 rúguǒ...就 jiù..., 虽然 suīrán...但是 dànshì...)
  9. Particles (助词 zhùcí):
    • Structural Particles: 的 (de - possessive, attributive), 地 (de - adverbial marker), 得 (de - complement marker)
    • Aspect Particles: 了 (le - completion/change), 着 (zhe - duration), 过 (guò - experience)
    • Sentence-Final / Modal Particles: 吗 (ma - question), 呢 (ne - follow-up question/ongoing state), 吧 (ba - suggestion/supposition), 啊 (a - exclamation/softening)

III. Sentence Structure (句子结构 Jùzi Jiégòu)

  1. Basic Word Order:
    • SVO (Subject-Verb-Object) - e.g., 我吃饭 (Wǒ chī fàn - I eat meal)
    • Subject-Adverb-Verb-Object (SAVO) - e.g., 我明天去北京 (Wǒ míngtiān qù Běijīng - I tomorrow go Beijing)
    • Topic-Comment Structure - e.g., 苹果我吃了 (Píngguǒ wǒ chī le - Apple, I ate it)
  2. Sentence Types:
    • Declarative Sentences (陈述句)
    • Interrogative Sentences (疑问句) - Yes/No (吗; V-not-V), Wh-questions, Alternative (还是 háishi)
    • Imperative Sentences (祈使句) - Often omit subject.
    • Exclamatory Sentences (感叹句) - Often using 太...了, 好...啊 etc.
  3. Negation:
    • Using 不 (bù) - For present, future, habitual actions, stative verbs/adjectives.
    • Using 没 (méi) / 没有 (méiyǒu) - For past actions (negating 了), existence (negating 有).
  4. Aspect (vs. Tense):
    • How actions relate to time (completion, duration, experience) using 了, 着, 过. Mandarin doesn't have verb tense conjugations like English.
  5. Complements (补语 bǔyǔ): (Modify verbs/adjectives)
    • Resultative Complements (结果补语) - e.g., 看见 (kànjiàn - see successfully), 听懂 (tīngdǒng - hear and understand)
    • Directional Complements (趋向补语) - Simple (来/去), Complex (上/下/进/出/回/过/起 + 来/去)
    • Potential Complements (可能补语) - Using 得/不 (e.g., 看得见 kàndejiàn - can see, 看不见 kànbújiàn - cannot see)
    • Degree Complements (程度补语) - e.g., 好得很 (hǎo de hěn - very good), 累死了 (lèi sǐ le - tired to death)
    • State Complements (状态补语) - Verb/Adj + 得 + Description (e.g., 他跑得很快 tā pǎo de hěn kuài - He runs fast)
    • Quantity/Duration Complements (数量/时量补语) - e.g., 看三次 (kàn sān cì - watch three times), 学了两年 (xué le liǎng nián - studied for two years)

IV. Special Sentence Patterns

  1. The "把" (bǎ) Construction: (S + 把 + O + V + Complement/了/etc.) - Emphasizes disposal/effect on the object.
  2. The "被" (bèi) Construction: (O + 被 + (Agent) + V + Complement/了/etc.) - Passive voice.
  3. Comparisons: (A 比 B + Adj; A 跟 B 一样 + Adj; A 没有 B + Adj)
  4. Existential Sentences: (Place + Verb (有/是/specific verb) + Numeral + MW + Noun) - e.g., 桌子上有一本书 (Zhuōzi shàng yǒu yì běn shū - There is a book on the table).

This list covers the core areas of Mandarin grammar typically encountered by learners.