HSK 3.0 · Updated for 2026
HSK 3 Grammar Points 2026: Complete List (96 Points)
HSK 3 is the most grammar-intensive level in the lower half of the scale. It introduces the two most notorious Mandarin structures — the 把 sentence and 被 passive — plus potential complements, 9 complex sentence patterns, and a full library of modal expressions. This is the official complete list for the 2026 syllabus.
Grammar Trap: Many students study 把 and 被 in isolation and never learn the full complement system. All three — potential complements, directional complements (extended use), and degree complements — appear on the HSK 3 exam in context.
HSK 3 Grammar Points 2026 — Image
Compare Adjacent Levels
Follow the same skill across the HSK ladder
Track how sentence patterns and grammar complexity build across levels.
Current Level Hub
HSK 3 Requirements 2026
Return to the level overview for the task outline, skill split, and adjacent study resources.
Previous Level
HSK 2 Grammar Points 2026
Revisit the previous level's core sentence patterns and complements.
Next Level
HSK 4 Grammar Points 2026
Preview the next level's grammar jump and more advanced structures.
96
New Grammar Points at L3
~50
New at L3
9
Complex Sentence Types
5
Complement Types
Word Classes (词类)
Prefixes & Suffixes
| Grammar Point | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 老— | 老师、老板、老鼠 | Prefix 老— for people, animals, and familiar terms |
| —家 | 科学家、艺术家、音乐家 | Suffix for experts/specialists in a field |
| —子 | 椅子、桌子、帽子 | Suffix for concrete objects (noun-forming) |
| —员 | 运动员、服务员、演员 | Suffix for personnel and members |
Direction Nouns (方位名词)
| Grammar Point | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 东、南、西、北 | 向东走 / 在南方 | Cardinal directions as nouns and in phrases |
| 东方、西方、南方、北方 | 东方文化 / 来自北方 | Directional regions (East, West, South, North) |
| 中间 | 坐在中间 / 在两棵树中间 | Between; in the middle |
Modal Verbs (能愿动词)
| Grammar Point | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 需要 | 我需要帮助。 | Need; require |
| 该 | 你该睡觉了。 | Should; ought to (often used with 了) |
| 应该 | 你应该多运动。 | Should; ought to (general advice) |
| 愿意 | 我愿意帮你。 | Be willing to; wish to |
| 得 (děi) | 明天得早起。 | Must; have to (colloquial obligation) |
Separable Verbs (离合词)
| Grammar Point | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| VO-type: 放假 / 见面 / 结婚 / 洗澡 | 放了三天假 / 见了个面 | Object can be inserted between V and O |
| VC-type: 离开 / 完成 / 分开 | 离开了 / 完成任务 | Verb-complement compounds (not truly separable but often confused) |
Interrogative Pronouns — Non-Question Uses (疑问代词非疑问用法)
| Grammar Point | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 任指用法①: 疑问代词+都 | 谁都可以来。/ 哪儿都好玩。 | Every/any: whoever, wherever, anything |
| 任指用法②: 疑问代词+疑问代词 | 你喜欢什么就买什么。 | Whatever you like (parallel structure) |
| 不定指用法 | 我想吃点儿什么。/ 有人来了。 | Indefinite reference: something, someone |
Pronouns (代词)
| Grammar Point | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 别人 | 不要管别人的事。 | Other people; others; someone else |
| 咱们 | 咱们一起去吧。 | We/us — includes both speaker and listener (vs 我们 which may exclude) |
| 别的 / 其他 | 还有别的问题吗？/ 其他人呢？ | Other (things/people) |
| 怎样 | 你觉得怎样？/ 怎样学好中文？ | How; in what way; how is it |
Measure Words (量词)
| Grammar Point | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Noun measure words (专用): 把/双/张/种/层/封/页/辆/节/所/班/段/头/句 | 一把刀 / 两双鞋 / 一层楼 | Specialized measure words for objects, vehicles, buildings |
| Borrowed: 碗/盘 | 一碗米饭 / 两盘菜 | Containers used as measure words |
| Verb measures: 口/回/遍/声 | 喝了一口水 / 说了一声 | Measure words for actions |
| Measure word reduplication: 个个/张张 | 个个都很好 | Every single one (emphatic) |
| Quantity reduplication: 数词+量词+数词+量词 | 一天一天地长大 | Day by day; one by one (incremental change) |
Adverbs (副词)
Degree Adverbs (程度副词)
| Grammar Point | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 比较 | 今天比较冷。 | Relatively; comparatively (milder than 很) |
| 还3 | 他还挺高兴的。 | Still; quite; rather (positive evaluation) |
| 更 | 今天比昨天更冷。 | Even more; still more (used in comparisons) |
| 特别 | 这里特别美。 | Especially; particularly; very |
| 挺 | 挺好的！ | Quite; pretty (colloquial, often + 的) |
| 有些 | 有些累了。 | Somewhat; a bit; rather |
| 越 | 天越来越冷了。 | More and more (used with 越来越) |
| 极 | 好极了！ | Extremely (used in 极了 pattern) |
Scope Adverbs (范围副词)
| Grammar Point | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 就3 / 一块儿 / 一共 / 只 / 到处 / 只是 | 一共五个 / 到处都是人 | Altogether; everywhere; only; just (limiting/total) |
Time Adverbs (时间副词)
| Grammar Point | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 才1 | 他才来。/ 才五点。 | Only just; as late as; not until |
| 马上 | 我马上就来。 | Right away; immediately; soon |
| 先 | 你先吃吧。 | First; before (in sequence) |
| 一会儿 | 等一会儿。/ 一会儿就好。 | In a moment; a little while |
| 刚 / 刚刚 | 他刚走。/ 我刚刚到。 | Just (moment ago) |
| 一直 | 一直等到八点。 | All along; continuously; straight |
Modal & Stance Adverbs (情态/语气副词)
| Grammar Point | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 大概 | 他大概不来了。 | Probably; approximately; roughly |
| 必须 | 你必须按时交作业。 | Must; have to (stronger than 应该) |
| 差不多 | 差不多好了。 | Almost; nearly; more or less |
| 一定 | 你一定能做到。 | Certainly; definitely; must |
| 好像 | 他好像生气了。 | It seems; as if; apparently |
| 几乎 | 几乎所有人都来了。 | Almost; nearly (before negative or near-100%) |
| 当然 | 当然可以。 | Of course; certainly; naturally |
| 其实 | 其实我不太喜欢。 | Actually; in fact; as a matter of fact |
| 终于 | 终于找到了！ | Finally; at last (after long wait/effort) |
| 才2 / 才3 / 就4 | 才两岁 / 说了就做 / 就是这样 | Only; as soon as; precisely (context-dependent meanings) |
Prepositions & Conjunctions (介词、连词)
Prepositions (介词)
| Grammar Point | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 为1 / 向1 / 关于 | 为大家服务 / 向老师请教 / 关于这件事 | For; toward; regarding/about (introducing object) |
| 向2 | 向东走 / 向前看 | Toward; in the direction of |
| 为了 / 为2 | 为了学好中文 / 为什么 | In order to; for the sake of; because of (purposive/causal) |
| 把 | 把作业做完 / 把钱放好 | Disposal: moves object before verb (marks object as affected) |
| 被 | 被老师批评了 / 被雨淋湿了 | Passive marker: subject receives the action |
| 根据 | 根据天气预报 / 根据规定 | According to; based on; in accordance with |
Conjunctions (连词)
| Grammar Point | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 或 / 或者 | 你或者他来 / 喝茶或咖啡 | Or; either...or (alternative choices) |
| 只有 | 只有努力，才能成功。 | Only if/when (necessary condition for result) |
| 只要 | 只要努力，就能成功。 | As long as (sufficient condition for result) |
| 不但 / 而且 | 不但聪明，而且努力。 | Not only...but also (progressive addition) |
| 如果 / 就 | 如果下雨，就不去了。 | If...then (conditional) |
| 可 / 可是 / 然后 | 想去，可是没时间 / 先写，然后读 | But; however; then/afterward |
Particle (助词)
| Grammar Point | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 的话 | 如果你来的话，给我打电话。 | If (softens conditional clauses; often paired with 如果) |
Try these patterns in your own sentences
Reading a pattern is not the same as producing it. In the Pass HSK app, HSK 3 grammar comes with example sentences, audio and practice questions.
Find your level and start freeFree to start · No account or credit card needed · Web, iOS & Android
Complements (补语)
Resultative Complements 2 (结果补语2)
| Grammar Point | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| V + 到 | 找到了 / 做到了 / 看到了 | Reach a point; achieve a result; find |
| V + 住 | 记住 / 抓住 / 站住 | Firmly; successfully hold/remember/stop |
| V + 走 | 拿走 / 带走 / 送走 | Take away; carry away |
| V + 上 | 爱上 / 穿上 / 关上 | Successfully put on; fall into; close up |
Directional Complements — Extended Meanings (趋向补语2引申义)
| Grammar Point | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| V + 出/起/下 (result meaning) | 想出办法 / 爱上了 / 写下名字 | Produce a result: think up, fall in love, write down |
| V + 上/起来 (action starts) | 唱起来了 / 笑起来了 | Starting to do: burst into singing/laughing |
| V + 下去/下来 (action continues) | 说下去 / 坚持下来 | Continue doing; persist; keep going |
Potential Complements (可能补语1)
| Grammar Point | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| V + 得/不 + V/Adj | 看得见/看不见 / 做得完/做不完 | Can/cannot: whether it is possible to achieve the result |
| Common patterns | 听得懂/听不懂 / 吃得了/吃不了 / 进得去/进不去 | Understand; finish eating; get in (possibility) |
Degree Complements (程度补语1)
| Grammar Point | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Adj + 得很 | 高兴得很 / 累得很 | Very (adjective); 很 emphasizes degree |
| Adj/V + 极了 | 好极了！/ 累极了！ | Extremely; to the extreme (enthusiastic) |
| Adj/V + 坏了 | 高兴坏了！/ 急坏了！ | Extremely (often emotional — overjoyed, frantic) |
Quantity Complements 3 (数量补语3)
| Grammar Point | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Time elapsed since action ended | 他来了三天了。/ 毕业三年了。 | Duration since a completed event: has been X time since... |
Special Sentence Patterns (特殊句型)
把 Sentence (把字句1)
| Grammar Point | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pattern 1: Subject + 把 + Object + V + 在/到 + Place | 他把书放在桌子上。 | Dispose of object to a location |
| Pattern 2: Subject + 把 + Object1 + V (+给) + Object2 | 请把这本书给他。 | Transfer object to recipient |
| Pattern 3: Subject + 把 + Object + V + Result/Direction/State Complement | 她把作业做完了。/ 我把碗打破了。 | Object undergoes resultant change |
被 Passive Sentence (被动句1)
| Grammar Point | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pattern 1: Subject + 被 + Agent + V + Other | 我的钱包被人偷走了。 | Full passive: agent is named |
| Pattern 2: Subject + 被 + V + Other | 那个计划被取消了。 | Agentless passive: agent is omitted |
Comparison Sentences (比较句2)
| Grammar Point | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| A + 比 + B + 更/还 + Adj | 今天比昨天更冷。 | A is even more adj than B |
| A + 跟/和 + B + 一样 | 我跟你一样高。 | A is the same as B |
| A + 跟/和 + B + 不一样 + Adj | 这件跟那件不一样贵。 | A is not as adj as B |
| A + 不比 + B + Adj | 我不比他差。 | A is not worse than B (often implies equal or better) |
| A + 比 + B + 多/少/早/晚 + V + Quantity | 他比我早来了一个小时。 | A does V by an amount more/earlier than B |
存现句3 (Appearance/Disappearance)
| Grammar Point | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance: Place + V + Direction + 了 + Quantity + Person/Thing | 门口走进来了两个人。 | Appearance at a location |
| Disappearance: Place + V + Result + 了 + Quantity + Person/Thing | 树上掉下来了几片叶子。 | Something disappears from a location |
Other Special Sentences
| Grammar Point | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 连动句2: V1 + 着 + V2 (simultaneous) | 他笑着说话。/ 她哭着跑出去了。 | 着 connects two simultaneous actions |
| 重动句: Subject + V + Object + V + Complement | 这道题我做了三遍还是没做对。 | Same verb repeated with object + result |
| 是……的句2 (speaker's attitude) | 他是真的很努力的。 | Emphatic: stresses the speaker's judgment/attitude |
| 反问句1: 不是……吗？ | 这不是很好吗？ | Rhetorical question for emphasis (of course it is) |
Complex Sentence Patterns (复句)
Nine Complex Sentence Types
| Grammar Point | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sequential (承接): 先……，再/然后…… | 先做作业，然后看电视。 | First...then (time sequence) |
| Alternative (选择): 或者……，或者…… | 你或者今天去，或者明天去。 | Either...or (two alternatives) |
| Parallel (并列): 一会儿……一会儿 / 又……又 / 一边……一边 | 一边吃饭，一边看电视。 | Simultaneously; alternating |
| Progressive (递进): 不但……，而且…… | 不但聪明，而且努力。 | Not only...but also |
| Concessive (转折): 虽然……，可是…… | 虽然很累，可是很高兴。 | Although...but (NOTE: 可是 at L3; 但是 at L2) |
| Conditional (假设): 如果……，就…… | 如果下雨，我就不去了。 | If...then (hypothetical) |
| Conditional: ……的话，就…… | 你来的话，就通知我。 | If (soft conditional with 的话) |
| Conditional (条件): 只有……，才…… | 只有努力，才能成功。 | Only if/when (necessary condition) |
| Conditional (条件): 只要……，就…… | 只要努力，就能成功。 | As long as (sufficient condition) |
| Purposive (目的): 为了……，…… | 为了健康，每天运动。 | In order to; for the purpose of |
| Contracted (紧缩): ……了……（就）…… | 下了课就走。/ 吃了饭再说。 | Once X happens, (then) Y |
Fixed Patterns & Expressions (固定格式)
Key Fixed Patterns
| Grammar Point | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 越来越 + Adj/V | 天气越来越热了。 | More and more; increasingly |
| 越……越…… | 越学越有意思。 | The more...the more |
| 除了……（以外），……还/也/都…… | 除了中文，他还会日语。 | In addition to / Apart from / Besides |
| 从……起 | 从明天起，不迟到了。 | Starting from (a time point) |
| 对……来说 | 对我来说，这很难。 | For (someone); from the perspective of |
| 一……也/都+不/没…… | 一点儿也不累。/ 一个人都没来。 | Not even a little; not a single one |
| 在……以前/以后/前/后 | 在上课以前，请预习。 | Before / after (a time or event) |
| 在……上/下/中 | 在工作中 / 在老师的帮助下 | In the context of; under (conditions); during |
| 不A不B | 不大不小 / 不快不慢 | Neither A nor B; just right (four-character idiom pattern) |
| 该……了 | 该吃饭了。/ 该你了。 | It is time to; your turn to |
| X什么（啊） | 哭什么啊！/ 着急什么！ | Why V? (rhetorical: stop doing X; there is no reason to) |
| 看来 / 在……看来 / 看起来 / 看上去 | 看来他不来了。/ 在我看来很好。 | It seems; apparently; in my opinion; look like |
| 一般来说 | 一般来说，他不迟到。 | Generally speaking; in general |
| 不怎么样 | 这个菜做得不怎么样。 | Not very good; so-so; nothing special |
Common Grammar Traps
把 sentence with intransitive verbs
Avoid: 我把书来了。
Example: 我把书带来了。
把 requires a verb with a result or direction complement. Simple intransitive verbs cannot be used.
被 sentence without an additional element
Avoid: 我被偷了。
Example: 我的钱包被人偷走了。
被 sentences require more than just V — add a result complement, direction complement, or 了.
Confusing 虽然...但是 (L2) with 虽然...可是 (L3)
Context: Both 虽然…但是 and 虽然…可是 are acceptable.
Example: 虽然很累，可是很开心。
HSK 3 introduces 可是 as the new concessive connector alongside 但是.
只有 vs 只要 (both mean conditions but opposite logic)
Avoid: 只要有钱才能买。(mixing patterns)
Example: 只有有钱，才能买。/ 只要努力，就能成功。
只有...才 = necessary condition (must have X). 只要...就 = sufficient condition (X is enough).
Potential complements vs 可以/能
Avoid: 我不可以看见他。(unnatural for ability)
Example: 我看不见他。/ 我能看见他。
Potential complements 看得见/看不见 express whether the result is achievable, not permission.
Source
All grammar points are sourced from the official HSK 3.0 syllabus (December 2025), pages 392–394. The first exam on the new standard is 13 December 2026.
Now build the sentences yourself
Reading a pattern is not the same as producing it. In the Pass HSK app, HSK 3 grammar comes with example sentences, audio and practice questions.
Find your level and start freeFree to start · No account or credit card needed · Web, iOS & Android