Word order carries the grammar
我明天在学校学习中文。
Chinese verbs do not conjugate for tense, so the position of time, place, subject, verb, and object does more work. Start by keeping the time phrase before the action it describes.
A working desk for Mandarin sentences
Chinese Grammar Rules, Examples, and Practice
Understand how a Chinese sentence is built, compare the forms learners confuse, practice one decision at a time, and check a sentence you actually want to use.
Browse GrammarCheck a Chinese Sentence
Write one focused sentence here. It will open in the Checker for you to review before analysis; the sentence is never added to the URL.
Chinese Grammar Fundamentals
These four systems explain a large share of beginner mistakes. Each note gives you a rule, a real sentence, and a focused lesson instead of an abstract learning path.
Particles show how an event is viewed
我看过这部电影。
Small words such as 了, 过, and 着 do not map neatly to English tense. They present completion, experience, change, or an ongoing state from a particular viewpoint.
Measure words complete noun phrases
三本书，不是三个书。
A number or demonstrative normally reaches a Chinese noun through a classifier. 个 is broad, but concrete nouns often have a more informative conventional measure word.
Complements finish the idea
他把作业做完了。
Result, direction, degree, and location often appear after a verb. They tell the listener whether an action succeeded, where it ended, or how strongly it was performed.
Common Chinese Grammar Confusions
Similar English translations often hide different Chinese jobs. Read the decision first, then use the paired example to notice the context that changes the answer.
不 vs 没
Use 不 for habits, choices, and future intention; use 没 for a past event that did not happen.
我今天不去。／我昨天没去。
的 vs 地／得
的 modifies a noun, 地 prepares a manner before a verb, and 得 introduces a complement after a verb.
新的书／认真地学／学得很好
会 vs 能／可以
会 often marks learned skill or likelihood, 能 highlights ability or conditions, and 可以 gives permission or possibility.
我会游泳。／今天能去。／可以进来。
还是 vs 或者
还是 normally asks the listener to choose; 或者 usually presents alternatives inside a statement.
喝茶还是咖啡？／喝茶或者咖啡都行。
又 vs 再
又 commonly looks back at a repeated event; 再 points toward another occurrence that has not happened yet.
他昨天又来了。／请明天再来。
有点儿 vs 一点儿
有点儿 usually introduces an unwanted degree; 一点儿 commonly follows an adjective or verb in comparisons and requests.
有点儿贵。／便宜一点儿。
Featured and Recently Updated Grammar
The latest published lessons appear automatically. The list stays at three entries, so two new lessons can be released every day without turning the homepage into a growing directory.
01 · HSK 2
数词和多表示概数
Approximate Numbers with 多
Round Number + 多 + Classifier + Noun; Number + Classifier/Unit + 多
02 · HSK 3
概数表示法2
Approximate Numbers with Adverbs, Adjacent Numerals, and Postpositions
大概/大约/几 + Number; Adjacent Numerals; Quantity + 左右/前后
03 · HSK 5
不管怎样说
不管怎样说 Discourse-Level Anyway
不管怎样说，Conclusion
Sources and Review Method
ChineseGrammar.app writes and reviews every lesson against professional grammar references. The level standard organizes the directory; it does not replace linguistic evidence for a rule, example, limitation, or register difference.
- Level evidence
- GF0025-2021 supports HSK placement. Its official advanced inventory combines Levels 7–9, so this site labels those three pages as internal learning subdivisions.
- Grammar evidence
- Academic reference grammars support structure, scope, clause relationships, optional forms, and distinctions between errors and register choices.
- Human review
- The project owner checks fixed answers, examples, metadata, source claims, and relationships before a lesson is released. No external expert endorsement is implied.
Grammar FAQ
Does Chinese really have grammar?
Yes. Chinese grammar relies less on changing word endings and more on word order, particles, complements, classifiers, and context. A short sentence can still be wrong when one of those relationships is misplaced.
Where should a beginner start?
Start with basic subject–verb–object order, time placement, measure words, 是 sentences, and the particles 了 and 过. Learn one contrast at a time and write a sentence before adding another rule.
Should I study grammar by HSK level?
HSK levels provide a useful directory, but they are not the only learning order. Use the HSK pages to narrow the field, then follow prerequisite and comparison links when a lesson reveals a specific gap.
How can I tell whether I can use a rule?
Do more than reread the explanation. Choose between two similar sentences, correct one broken example, rebuild the word order, and then check a sentence you wrote for a real purpose.