A2 grammar points with HSK

"A2" (Elementary) is the second level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). This pages shows the exact HSK Level equivalent of each A2 grammar point (instead of "Examples") for easy comparison between the two systems.

There are 99 total grammar points in the list below.

Parts of Speech

These following grammar points fit pretty neatly into one part of speech category.

Adjectives

Grammar Point (English) Pattern HSK Level
Negative adjectives with "-si le" Adj. + 死了 HSK4

Adverbs

Grammar Point (English) Pattern HSK Level
Approximations with "chabuduo" Subj. + 差不多 HSK4
Emphasizing quantity with "dou" 大家 / 很多人 + 都⋯⋯ HSK2
Expressing actions in progress with "zai" (正) 在 + Verb HSK1
Expressing "all along" with "yizhi" Subj. + 一直 + Predicate HSK3
Expressing "already" with "yijing" 已经⋯⋯了 HSK2
Expressing "always" with "zongshi" 总是 + Verb HSK3
Expressing "and also" with "hai" 还 + Verb HSK2
Expressing "just" with "gang" Subj. + 刚 + Verb HSK4
Expressing "only" with "zhi" 只 + Verb HSK3
Expressing "then" with "jiu" 就 + Verb Phrase HSK2
Negative commands with "bie" 别 + Verb HSK2
Simultaneous tasks with "yibian" 一边 + Verb 1 (,) 一边 + Verb 2 HSK3

Adverbs with Adjectives

Grammar Point (English) Pattern HSK Level
Asking about degree with "duo" Subj. + 多 + Adj. ? HSK1 and HSK2
Basic comparisons with "yiyang" Noun 1 + 跟 / 和 + Noun 2 + 一样 + Adj. HSK3
Expressing "a little too" with "you dian" 有点(儿) + Adj. HSK2
Expressing "both A and B" with "you" 又⋯⋯ 又⋯⋯ HSK3
Expressing distance with "li" Place 1 + 离 + Place 2 + Adv. + 近 / 远 HSK2
Expressing "even more" with "geng" 更 + Adj. HSK2
Expressing "not very" with "bu tai" 不太 + Adj. HSK1
Expressing "really" with "zhen" 真 + Adj. HSK2
Intensifying with "duo" Subj. + 多 + Adj. HSK3
Moderating positive adjectives with "hai" 还 + Adj. HSK2
Modifying nouns with adjective + "de" Adj. + 的 + Noun HSK3
Modifying nouns with phrase + "de" Phrase + 的 + Noun HSK2
Superlative "zui" 最 + Adj. (+ 了) HSK2

Conjunctions

Grammar Point (English) Pattern HSK Level
Expressing "or" in statements ⋯⋯或者⋯⋯ HSK3
Expressing "with" with "gen" 跟⋯⋯ + Verb HSK3
The filler word "neige" ⋯⋯那个⋯⋯ HSK2
Two words for "but" ……,可是 / 但是…… HSK4

Nouns

Grammar Point (English) Pattern HSK Level
After a specific time with "yihou" Time / Verb + 以后 HSK1
Before a specific time with "yiqian" Time / Verb + 以前 HSK1 and HSK3
Expressing "before" in general with "yiqian" 以前,⋯⋯ HSK3
Expressing "just now" with "gangcai" 刚才 + Verb HSK3
Expressing "when" with "de shihou" ⋯⋯的时候 HSK2
In the future in general with "yihou" 以后,⋯⋯ HSK3
Time words and word order Subj. + Time⋯⋯ / Time + Subj.⋯⋯ HSK1

Numbers

Grammar Point (English) Pattern HSK Level
Approximating with sequential numbers Number 1 + Number 2 HSK3
Big numbers in Chinese Number + 万 / 亿 HSK3
Structure of times (advanced) Number 1 + 点(钟) + Number 2 + 分 HSK1 and HSK3

Numbers and Measure Words

Grammar Point (English) Pattern HSK Level
Using "ji" to mean "several" 几 + Measure Word + Noun HSK2

Particles

Grammar Point (English) Pattern HSK Level
Change of state with "le" ⋯⋯了 HSK3
Conceding with "ba" ⋯⋯吧 HSK2
Expressing "already" with just "le" Subj. + Verb Phrase + 了 HSK2
Expressing completion with "le" Subj. + Verb + 了 + Obj. HSK1
Expressing experiences with "guo" Verb + 过 HSK2
Expressing "not anymore" with "le" 不 / 没(有) + Verb Phrase + 了 HSK1
Expressing "now" with "le" New Situation + 了 HSK1
Modal particle "ne" ⋯⋯呢 ? HSK2
Sentence-final interjection "a" ⋯⋯啊 HSK1
Softening speech with "ba" ⋯⋯吧 HSK1
Structural particle "de" 的 / 得 / 地 HSK3
Using "guo" with "le" Verb + 过 + 了 HSK2

Prepositions

Grammar Point (English) Pattern HSK Level
Basic comparisons with "bi" Noun 1 + 比 + Noun 2 + Adj. HSK2
Expressing "from… to…" with "cong… dao…" 从⋯⋯到⋯⋯ HSK2

Verbs

Grammar Point (English) Pattern HSK Level
Basic comparisons with "meiyou" Noun 1 + 没(有) + Noun 2 + Adj. HSK3
Directional verbs "lai" and "qu" 来 / 去 + Place HSK1
Polite requests with "qing" 请 + Verb HSK1

Auxiliary verbs

Grammar Point (English) Pattern HSK Level
Auxiliary verb "yao" and its multiple meanings 要 + Noun / 要 + Verb HSK2
Expressing "should" with "yinggai" 应该 / 该 + Verb HSK3
Expressing "will" with "hui" 会 + Verb HSK1
Expressing "would like to" with "xiang" 想 + Verb HSK1

Verb phrases

Grammar Point (English) Pattern HSK Level
Actions in a row (Verb Phrase 1) + (Verb Phrase 2) HSK2
Expressing "difficult" with "nan" 难 + Verb HSK3
Expressing duration with "le" Verb + 了 + Duration HSK3
Expressing "never" with "conglai" 从来 + 不 / 没(有) + Verb HSK4
Expressing ongoing duration with double "le" Verb + 了 + Duration + 了 HSK3
Expressing "together" with "yiqi" 一起 + Verb HSK2
Inability with "mei banfa" 没办法 + Verb HSK3
Indicating location with "zai" before verbs Subj. + 在 + Place + Verb HSK1
Reduplication of verbs Verb + Verb HSK2 and HSK3
Special cases of "zai" following verbs Verb + 在 + Place HSK2
Special verbs with "hen" 很 + Verb HSK3
Using "dao" to mean "to go to" 到 + Place HSK2
Using "hao" to mean "easy" 好 + Verb HSK2
Verbing briefly with "yixia" Verb + 一下 HSK2
Verbs that take double objects Subj. + Verb + Indirect Obj. + Direct Obj. HSK2

Grammatical Structures

These are grammatical structures that do not correspond to one particular part of speech.

Complements

Grammar Point (English) Pattern HSK Level
Potential complement "-bu dong" for not understanding Verb + 不懂 HSK2
Result complements "-dao" and "-jian" Verb + 到 / 见 HSK2
Result complement "-wan" for finishing Verb + 完 (+ 了) HSK2

Noun Phrases

Grammar Point (English) Pattern HSK Level
Expressing "some" with "yixie" 一些 + Noun HSK1
Using "youde" to mean "some" 有的 + Noun HSK3

Numbers and Measure Words

Grammar Point (English) Pattern HSK Level
Counting money Number + 块 / 元 (+ Number + 毛 / 角) (+ 钱) HSK1
Expressing "every" with "mei" 每 + Measure Word (+ Noun) HSK2
Expressing "half" with "ban" Number + Measure Word + 半 + Noun HSK3
Measure words for counting Number + Measure Word + Noun HSK2
Measure words in quantity questions 几 + Measure Word (+ Noun) ? HSK1
Measure words with "this" and "that" 这 / 那 + Measure Word (+ Noun) HSK2
Ordinal numbers with "di" 第 + Number (+ Measure Word) HSK2

Question Forms

Grammar Point (English) Pattern HSK Level
Asking how something is with "zenmeyang" ⋯⋯怎么样? HSK1
Asking why with "zenme" 怎么⋯⋯? HSK2
Questions with "le ma" Verb + 了 + 吗? HSK1

Sentence Patterns

Grammar Point (English) Pattern HSK Level
Cause and effect with "yinwei" and "suoyi" 因为⋯⋯ 所以⋯⋯ HSK2
Expressing "about to happen" with "le" 快 + Verb / Adj. + 了 HSK2
Expressing "everything" with "shenme dou" 什么 + 都 / 也⋯⋯ HSK2
Expressing location with "zai... shang / xia / li" 在 + Place + 上 / 下 / 里 / 旁边 HSK4
Expressing "stop doing" with "bie… le" 别 + Verb + 了 HSK2

Comparisons of Similar Grammar Points

What's the difference between this grammar point and that grammar point? Check here.

Adverbs

Grammar Point (English) Pattern HSK Level
Comparing "bu" and "mei" 不 vs 没 HSK1

Auxiliary verbs

Grammar Point (English) Pattern HSK Level
Comparing "yao" and "xiang" 要 vs 想 HSK2