HSK 3 grammar

By Carson 木林森 · Updated October 2026

HSK 3 grammar is 把 and 被, potential and compound directional complements, topic-comment structure — 30 points in all, listed here in the order GraphChinese teaches them. Each one carries the pattern, worked examples with pinyin, and the topics it depends on.

Other levels: HSK 1 · HSK 2 · HSK 3 · HSK 4 · HSK 5 · HSK 6 · All 195

HSK 3 · 30 points

• The 把 Construction 把字句 The 把 construction moves the object in front of the verb, so the sentence says what is done to that object and what becomes of it. The pattern is subject + 把 + definite object + verb + result, and the verb cannot stand bare.
• Degree Adverbs: 比较, 更加, 相当, 极 程度副词 Degree adverbs are words placed before an adjective to say how strong the quality is. At HSK 3 they are 比较 (fairly), 相当 (quite), 更加 (even more) and 极 (extremely), which also works after the adjective as 极了.
• Degree Complements: Adj+得很/极了/死了 程度补语 A degree complement goes after an adjective to say it is true to an extreme degree, instead of putting 很 before it. At HSK 3 the main ones are 得很 (very), 极了 (extremely) and 死了 (unbearably), as in 好极了 and 累死了.
• Directional Preposition: 朝, 向 方向介词 朝 (cháo) and 向 (xiàng) are prepositions that point an action toward a person, place or direction, both roughly meaning toward. 朝 suits physical facing and gestures, while 向 also covers abstract targets, as in 向他学习.
• Duration & Frequency Complements 时量补语与动量补语 Duration and frequency complements go after a verb to say how long an action lasted or how many times it happened. Duration uses phrases like 两个小时, while frequency uses a number plus a measure word such as 次 or 遍.
• Emphasis: 是…的, 难道…吗, 一…也不 强调方法 Emphasis patterns make a sentence stronger or draw attention to one part of it. At HSK 3 they are 是…的 (stresses how, when or where a past action happened), 难道…吗 (a surprised question) and 一…也不 (not at all).
• Extended Comparison Patterns: A比B V得Adj 比较句扩展 This extended comparison pattern compares how two people do an action by adding V得 to 比, as in 他跑得比我快. It builds on the HSK 2 pattern A比B+adjective, which compares only states, and may add 多了 or 一点儿 for the size of the gap.
• Frequency Adverbs: 通常, 往往, 总是 频率副词 Frequency adverbs say how often something happens, and at HSK 3 the three to separate are 通常 (usually, a neutral habit), 往往 (often, a pattern seen many times) and 总是 (always, often with a complaint). They go before the verb.
• Inclusive Pronouns: 各, 每, 任何 指示代词 Inclusive pronouns cover every member of a group instead of picking one. At HSK 3 these are 每 (each one), 各 (each of several separate members) and 任何 (any at all), and they usually pair with 都 before the verb.
• Manner Adverbs: 互相, 尽量, 亲自 方式副词 Manner adverbs go before a verb to say how the action is done. At HSK 3 the four to know are 互相 (each other), 相互 (mutual, more formal), 尽量 (as far as possible) and 亲自 (in person).
• Modal Stance Adverbs: 大概, 恐怕, 当然, 其实 情态语气副词 Modal stance adverbs show how sure the speaker is, or how the speaker sees the facts. At HSK 3 they are 大概 (roughly, probably), 恐怕 (I am afraid that), 当然 (of course) and 其实 (actually), and they come before the verb.
• Modal Verbs: 敢 (dare) & 需要 (need) 能愿动词 Modal verbs go before the main verb to add ability, need or willingness. This HSK 3 point adds 敢 (to dare) and 需要 (to need), which sit before a verb phrase in the same way as earlier modals like 想 and 会.
• New Classifiers: 把, 双, 台, 张, 种, 辆 名量词 A classifier, or measure word, sits between a number and a noun, and each kind of noun takes its own. At HSK 3 the new ones are 把 (things with a handle), 双 (pairs), 台 (machines), 张 (flat things), 种 (kinds) and 辆 (vehicles).
• Pivot Sentences: 叫/让/请+someone+V 兼语句 A pivot sentence has one noun that is the object of the first verb and also the subject of the second, as in 妈妈叫我回家. At HSK 3 the first verb is 叫 (tell), 让 (let, make), 请 (invite) or 派 (send).
• Prefixes & Suffixes: 第-, 老-, 小-, -们, -子 前缀与后缀 Prefixes and suffixes are small word parts that attach to other words to change their kind. At HSK 3 these are 第 (makes ordinals), 老 and 小 (before a surname), 们 (makes a plural) and 子 (ends many nouns).
• Prepositions of Cause & Purpose: 由于, 因为, 为了 原因目的介词 Prepositions of cause and purpose introduce why something happened or what it is for. At HSK 3 these are 因为 (because), 由于 (because of, more formal) and 为了 (in order to, for the sake of).
• Prepositions of Time & Place: 自从, 由, 从…起 时间处所介词 Prepositions of time and place mark where or when something starts. At HSK 3 this point covers 自从 (ever since), 由 (from, or by whom) and the frame 从…起 (starting from), which are common in rules and plans.
• Question Words as Non-Questions: 谁都, 什么都 疑问代词的任指和不定指用法 A question word stops asking a question when it is followed by 都 or 也 before the verb, and then it covers everything. 谁都 means everyone, 什么都 means everything, and with a negative 哪里也 and 怎么也 mean nowhere and no matter how.
• Result Complements: V+到/住/走 结果补语 At HSK 3 the result complement, a word placed directly after a verb to say what the action achieved, gains 到 (reached), 住 (held fast), 走 (away), 见 (perceived) and 上 (closed or attached), alongside 完 (finished) from HSK 2.
• Scope Adverbs: 光, 仅, 就, 至少 范围副词 Scope adverbs set the limit of how much an action or quantity covers. At HSK 3, 光, 仅 and 就 all mean only and set an upper limit, with 光 spoken and 仅 formal, while 至少 (at least) sets a lower limit.
• Separable Verb-Object Compounds 动宾式离合词 A separable verb-object compound is a two-character verb made of a verb plus an object, so 了, 过, a number or a modifier goes between its parts. At HSK 3 the examples are 见面 (meet), 睡觉 (sleep) and 请假 (ask for leave).
• Time Adverbs: 本来, 才, 曾经, 从来, 立刻 时间副词 Time adverbs place an action in time or against what was expected. At HSK 3 they are 本来 (originally), 才 (only then, late), 曾经 (once), 从来 (all along, usually with a negative), 立刻 (immediately) and 终于 (finally).
• Topic-Comment & Subject-Predicate Predicate 主谓谓语句 A subject-predicate predicate sentence names a topic first and then adds a full clause that comments on it. In 他身体很好 the topic is 他 and the comment is 身体很好, and the object can also be moved up to start the sentence.
• Passive Constructions: 被, 叫, 让 被动句 The 被 sentence is the Chinese passive, where the thing affected comes first and the doer follows 被, as in 杯子被打破了. In speech 叫 and 让 do the same job, but they must name the doer, and the verb needs a complement.
• Complex Sentences: 不仅…还…, 只有…才…, 虽然…但是… 复句 Complex sentences join two clauses with a paired pattern that sets their logical link. At HSK 3 these are 不仅…还 (not only, but also), 只有…才 (only if) and 虽然…但是 (although, but).
• Compound Directional Complements 复合趋向补语 A compound directional complement follows a verb to show which way something moves, using a direction word plus 来 or 去. The HSK 3 set is 出来, 出去, 回来, 进去 and 起来, and some also gain figurative meanings like becoming clear.
• Conditional & Purpose Clauses: 要是…就, 为了… 假设与目的复句 Conditional and purpose clauses state a condition and its result, or an aim and the action taken for it. At HSK 3 this point covers 要是…就 (if, then) and 为了 (in order to), where 为了 opens the clause that gives the goal.
• Potential Complements: V+得/不+V/Adj 可能补语 A potential complement puts 得 or 不 between a verb and its complement to say whether the result is possible, as in 看得懂 (can understand by reading) and 看不懂 (cannot). It reuses the result complements you already know.
• Repetition & Serial Verb Patterns 重动词与数量重叠 Repetition and serial verb patterns express things done over and over, or in a chain. At HSK 3 this includes doubled measure words like 天天 (every day) and the pattern 一…一…地 (one by one).
• Verbal Phrases as Subject, Object & Modifier 动词短语作主语、宾语和定语 A verb phrase can do a noun's job in Chinese, serving as a subject, as an object or as a modifier. As a subject it stands alone (学习汉语很有意思), as an object it follows verbs like 决定, and with 的 it modifies a noun.

Get these patterns into your own sentences. GraphChinese drills every HSK 3 grammar point and schedules the review that keeps it.

Frequently asked questions

How many grammar points are there in HSK 3?

GraphChinese teaches 30. The HSK publishes a vocabulary list rather than a grammar list, so any count depends on how finely you cut the patterns; these are the 30 taught as separate topics with their own prerequisites, and every one of them is on this page.

What grammar do you learn at HSK 3?

HSK 3 is 把 and 被, potential and compound directional complements, topic-comment structure. It opens with The 把 Construction, Degree Adverbs: 比较, 更加, 相当, 极, Degree Complements: Adj+得很/极了/死了, Directional Preposition: 朝, 向.

What do you need to know before HSK 3 grammar?

The patterns HSK 3 points name most often as prerequisites are Result Complements: 错/懂/好/完/清楚 (HSK 2), Serial Verb Sentences: Sequential Actions (HSK 2), Structural Particle 得: State Complement (HSK 2). Each point below lists its own, so you can walk back from whichever one stops making sense.

Which HSK 3 grammar point is worth learning first?

By dependency, Result Complements: V+到/住/走: 3 later points name it among their own prerequisites, more than any other point at this level. 到 (dào) "to, reaching" — the action reaches/achieves its target. 我找到钥匙了。(I found the key — the search reached success.) Also: 听到、看到、想到、收到.

Related guides: The HSK levels, explained · HSK vocabulary lists · The dictionary · The full curriculum · How to study Chinese