Kilo Lingo

Mandarin grammar

Every Mandarin grammar topic, in one place

Filter by CEFR level, search by topic, and pick the piece that fits what you are stuck on. The catalogue covers the full set of Mandarin grammar rules from the SVO baseline at A1 to the register-shifting moves at C1.

Studying for AQA GCSE Mandarin? See every grammar structure the specification prescribes, and where each one is taught.

  1. Intermediate (B1-B2)

    About and Around

    Mandarin says 'about' by seat: 左右 after the number, 大概 and 差不多 before it, 几, 来 and 多 inside it. Examples, overlaps and the slips.

  2. Beginner (A1-A2)

    Adjectives

    Mandarin adjectives are really stative verbs, so you do not use 是 before them. Why 很 sits in front as a default filler, and how to negate with 不/没.

  3. Beginner (A1-A2)

    Adjectives Before Nouns

    大房子 or 大的房子? One-syllable adjectives go straight onto the noun; longer or modified ones take 的. The rule, the exceptions and 大的, the big one.

  4. Advanced (C1-C2)

    Advanced grammar (C1-C2)

    Classical-Chinese-derived register, chengyu deployment, formal written grammar, the structural particles that signal literary tone.

  5. Intermediate (B1-B2)

    Although

    How Mandarin concedes a point: 虽然 answered by 但是 or 还是, the softer 不过, and the three jobs of 还是 (still, had better, or), with examples.

  6. Beginner (A1-A2)

    Aspect Markers

    Mandarin verbs never change for tense. Four aspect markers do the work: 了, 过, 在 and 着. What each means, where it goes, and a position chart.

All Mandarin grammar topics, A-Z

Beginner (A1-A2)

Intermediate (B1-B2)

Advanced (C1-C2)