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 |
