Chapter 10 of 11

🔤 Grammar & Vocabulary (语法)

6 min+15 XP

Chinese grammar has unique patterns that differ from English. This chapter covers the most commonly tested grammar patterns in PSLE Chinese, including 把字句, 被字句, aspect markers (了/过/着), and the tricky 的/地/得 particles.

📐 Essential Grammar Patterns

把字句bǎ zì jù— 把 construction (disposal)

Structure: Subject + 把 + Object + Verb + Complement

妈妈把饭菜放在桌子上。

Māma bǎ fàncài fàng zài zhuōzi shàng.

Mum placed the food on the table.

请把垃圾丢进垃圾桶里。

Qǐng bǎ lājī diū jìn lājī tǒng lǐ.

Please throw the rubbish into the bin.

💡 The 把 sentence emphasises what happens to the object. The verb must have a result or direction — you cannot say 把书看 alone; you need 把书看完.

被字句bèi zì jù— Passive construction

Structure: Object + 被 + Subject + Verb (+ Complement)

我的作业被老师收走了。

Wǒ de zuòyè bèi lǎoshī shōu zǒu le.

My homework was collected by the teacher.

蛋糕被弟弟吃完了。

Dàngāo bèi dìdi chī wán le.

The cake was finished by younger brother.

💡 被 sentences often express something unfortunate or undesirable happening to the subject. The verb must have a complement (了, 完, 走, etc.).

了 (le)le— Completed action particle

Structure: Verb + 了 (+ Object)

我吃了一碗云吞面。

Wǒ chī le yī wǎn yúntūn miàn.

I ate a bowl of wonton noodles.

他买了一本新的华文课本。

Tā mǎi le yī běn xīn de huáwén kèběn.

He bought a new Chinese textbook.

💡 了 after a verb indicates the action is completed. 了 at the end of a sentence indicates a change of state. They can appear together: 他来了。

过 (guò)guò— Past experience particle

Structure: Verb + 过 (+ Object)

我去过滨海湾花园。

Wǒ qù guò Bīnhǎi wān huāyuán.

I have been to Gardens by the Bay.

你吃过榴莲吗？

Nǐ chī guò liúlián ma?

Have you ever eaten durian?

💡 过 indicates that something has been experienced at least once. Negative form: 没 + Verb + 过 (我没去过日本).

着 (zhe)zhe— Ongoing state particle

Structure: Verb + 着

妈妈穿着旗袍去参加国庆日庆祝活动。

Māma chuān zhe qípáo qù cānjiā guóqìng rì qìngzhù huódòng.

Mum wore a cheongsam to attend the National Day celebrations.

教室的门开着。

Jiàoshì de mén kāi zhe.

The classroom door is open.

💡 着 describes a continuous state, not an ongoing action. Compare: 他坐着 (he is sitting — a state) vs 他在看书 (he is reading — an ongoing action).

的 (de)de— Descriptive/possessive particle

Structure: Adjective/Noun + 的 + Noun

漂亮的组屋花园让居民很高兴。

Piàoliang de zǔwū huāyuán ràng jūmín hěn gāoxìng.

The beautiful HDB garden makes residents happy.

这是我最喜欢的小贩中心。

Zhè shì wǒ zuì xǐhuān de xiǎofàn zhōngxīn.

This is my favourite hawker centre.

💡 的 links a description to a noun. If the adjective is one syllable and common (大, 小, 好), 的 is often dropped: 好人, not 好的人.

地 (de)de— Adverbial particle

Structure: Adjective/Adverb + 地 + Verb

同学们认真地准备PSLE考试。

Tóngxuémen rènzhēn de zhǔnbèi PSLE kǎoshì.

The students earnestly prepare for the PSLE exam.

弟弟高兴地跑回家。

Dìdi gāoxìng de pǎo huí jiā.

Younger brother happily ran home.

💡 地 is placed between an adverb/adjective and a verb. Think of it as the "-ly" in English (happily, seriously). 认真地学 = study seriously.

得 (de)de— Degree complement particle

Structure: Verb + 得 + Complement

哥哥跑得非常快。

Gēge pǎo de fēicháng kuài.

Elder brother runs very fast.

她华文说得很流利。

Tā huáwén shuō de hěn liúlì.

She speaks Chinese very fluently.

💡 Use 得 after a verb to describe the degree or result of the action. To negate: Verb + 得 + 不 + Adj (跑得不快). Remember: 的 for nouns, 地 for verbs (before), 得 for verbs (after).

比 (bǐ)bǐ— Comparison (A is more... than B)

Structure: A + 比 + B + Adjective

哥哥比我高。

Gēge bǐ wǒ gāo.

Elder brother is taller than me.

今天比昨天更热。

Jīntiān bǐ zuótiān gèng rè.

Today is even hotter than yesterday.

💡 Do NOT add 很 before the adjective in 比 sentences. ❌ 哥哥比我很高 → ✅ 哥哥比我高. Use 更 for emphasis.

跟……一样gēn...yīyàng— Same as / As...as

Structure: A + 跟 + B + 一样 (+ Adjective)

弟弟跟我一样高。

Dìdi gēn wǒ yīyàng gāo.

Younger brother is as tall as me.

他的书包跟我的一样。

Tā de shūbāo gēn wǒ de yīyàng.

His school bag is the same as mine.

💡 Negative form: A + 跟 + B + 不一样 (A and B are different). You can also use 和 instead of 跟.

最 (zuì)zuì— Superlative (the most)

Structure: 最 + Adjective/Verb

这是我最喜欢的科目。

Zhè shì wǒ zuì xǐhuān de kēmù.

This is my favourite subject.

新加坡最有名的美食是鸡饭。

Xīnjiāpō zuì yǒumíng de měishí shì jīfàn.

Singapore's most famous food is chicken rice.

💡 最 goes directly before an adjective or verb — it cannot be used with 比. ❌ 最比他高 → ✅ 他最高.

越来越……yuèláiyuè...— More and more

Structure: 越来越 + Adjective/Verb

天气越来越热了。

Tiānqì yuèláiyuè rè le.

The weather is getting hotter and hotter.

他的华文越来越好了。

Tā de huáwén yuèláiyuè hǎo le.

His Chinese is getting better and better.

💡 Used to describe a gradual change over time. Always ends with 了 to show the change.

不 (bù)bù— Negation (present/future)

Structure: 不 + Verb/Adjective

我不喜欢吃辣的食物。

Wǒ bù xǐhuān chī là de shíwù.

I do not like eating spicy food.

今天不太冷。

Jīntiān bú tài lěng.

It is not too cold today.

💡 不 negates habitual actions and states. For past completed actions, use 没/没有 instead. ❌ 昨天不去 → ✅ 昨天没去.

没/没有 (méi/méiyǒu)méi/méiyǒu— Negation (past actions)

Structure: 没(有) + Verb

我昨天没去学校。

Wǒ zuótiān méi qù xuéxiào.

I did not go to school yesterday.

他还没做完功课。

Tā hái méi zuò wán gōngkè.

He has not finished his homework yet.

💡 没 negates completed actions — it replaces 了. ❌ 我没吃了 → ✅ 我没吃. Use 还没 for "not yet".

……吗？...ma?— Yes/No question particle

Structure: Statement + 吗？

你是新加坡人吗？

Nǐ shì Xīnjiāpō rén ma?

Are you Singaporean?

你吃过榴莲吗？

Nǐ chī guò liúlián ma?

Have you eaten durian before?

💡 Simply add 吗 to the end of a statement to form a yes/no question. Do NOT add 吗 if the sentence already has a question word (什么, 谁, 哪).

……呢？...ne?— Follow-up / "What about?" question

Structure: Noun/Pronoun + 呢？

我很好，你呢？

Wǒ hěn hǎo, nǐ ne?

I am fine, and you?

我的铅笔呢？

Wǒ de qiānbǐ ne?

Where is my pencil?

💡 呢 asks "what about...?" or "where is...?" It implies the answer relates to the previous context.

在 (zài)zài— Location / Ongoing action

Structure: 在 + Place / 在 + Verb

我在图书馆做功课。

Wǒ zài túshūguǎn zuò gōngkè.

I am doing homework at the library.

他在看书。

Tā zài kànshū.

He is reading a book.

💡 在 + place = "at a location". 在 + verb = "currently doing" (like English "-ing"). 正在 adds emphasis: 他正在吃饭 (He is eating right now).

从……到……cóng...dào...— From...to...

Structure: 从 + Start + 到 + End

从我家到学校要二十分钟。

Cóng wǒ jiā dào xuéxiào yào èrshí fēnzhōng.

From my house to school takes twenty minutes.

从星期一到星期五都要上学。

Cóng xīngqī yī dào xīngqī wǔ dōu yào shàngxué.

From Monday to Friday we have school.

💡 Works for both place and time. 从...到... can express distance or duration.

往/向 (wǎng/xiàng)wǎng/xiàng— Towards / In the direction of

Structure: 往/向 + Direction + Verb

请往前走。

Qǐng wǎng qián zǒu.

Please walk forward.

他向老师鞠了一个躬。

Tā xiàng lǎoshī jū le yī gè gōng.

He bowed to the teacher.

💡 往 focuses on direction of movement; 向 can also mean "towards" a person (向他道歉 = apologise to him).

让/叫/使 (ràng/jiào/shǐ)ràng/jiào/shǐ— Causative (make/let someone do)

Structure: A + 让/叫/使 + B + Verb

妈妈让我先做完功课再玩。

Māma ràng wǒ xiān zuò wán gōngkè zài wán.

Mum told me to finish homework before playing.

这件事使我很感动。

Zhè jiàn shì shǐ wǒ hěn gǎndòng.

This matter made me very touched.

💡 让 is the most common in daily speech. 叫 is informal. 使 is more formal/written and used in compositions for emotional impact.

有 (yǒu)yǒu— Existence / Possession

Structure: Place + 有 + Noun / Noun + 有 + Noun

学校旁边有一个大操场。

Xuéxiào pángbiān yǒu yī gè dà cāochǎng.

Beside the school there is a big field.

我有两个好朋友。

Wǒ yǒu liǎng gè hǎo péngyǒu.

I have two good friends.

💡 Negative: 没有 (not 不有). ❌ 不有 → ✅ 没有. For location, the place comes BEFORE 有.

是……的 (shì...de)shì...de— Emphasis on detail of past action

Structure: 是 + (Time/Place/Manner) + Verb + 的

他是昨天来的。

Tā shì zuótiān lái de.

He came yesterday (emphasising when).

我是在新加坡出生的。

Wǒ shì zài Xīnjiāpō chūshēng de.

I was born in Singapore (emphasising where).

💡 The 是...的 structure highlights WHEN, WHERE, or HOW an action happened. The action itself is already known — you are specifying the detail.

Verb + 完 (wán)wán— Resultative: finish doing

Structure: Verb + 完 (+ 了)

我做完功课了。

Wǒ zuò wán gōngkè le.

I have finished my homework.

饭还没吃完。

Fàn hái méi chī wán.

The food has not been finished yet.

💡 完 after a verb means the action is finished. Other common resultative complements: 好 (done well), 到 (achieved), 见 (perceived).

Verb + 到 (dào)dào— Resultative: succeed in / reach

Structure: Verb + 到 (+ Object)

我在图书馆找到了那本书。

Wǒ zài túshūguǎn zhǎo dào le nà běn shū.

I found that book in the library.

他收到了一封信。

Tā shōu dào le yī fēng xìn.

He received a letter.

💡 到 after a verb shows that an action reached its goal: 找到 (found), 看到 (saw), 听到 (heard), 收到 (received).

Verb + 给 (gěi)gěi— Transfer / Give to

Structure: Verb + 给 + Person

请把这本书还给老师。

Qǐng bǎ zhè běn shū huán gěi lǎoshī.

Please return this book to the teacher.

他送给我一份生日礼物。

Tā sòng gěi wǒ yī fèn shēngrì lǐwù.

He gave me a birthday present.

💡 给 shows the recipient of an action: 送给 (give to), 还给 (return to), 教给 (teach to), 卖给 (sell to).

虽然……但是……suīrán...dànshì...— Although...but...

Structure: 虽然 + Clause A，但是 + Clause B

虽然下雨了，但是我还是去上学。

Suīrán xià yǔ le, dànshì wǒ háishì qù shàngxué.

Although it rained, I still went to school.

虽然考试很难，但是我没有放弃。

Suīrán kǎoshì hěn nán, dànshì wǒ méiyǒu fàngqì.

Although the exam was hard, I did not give up.

💡 Unlike English, Chinese uses BOTH "although" and "but" together. This is one of the most commonly tested patterns.

因为……所以……yīnwèi...suǒyǐ...— Because...therefore...

Structure: 因为 + Reason，所以 + Result

因为生病了，所以不能上学。

Yīnwèi shēngbìng le, suǒyǐ bù néng shàngxué.

Because I was sick, I could not go to school.

因为他很用功，所以成绩很好。

Yīnwèi tā hěn yònggōng, suǒyǐ chéngjì hěn hǎo.

Because he is hardworking, his grades are very good.

💡 Like 虽然...但是, Chinese uses BOTH "because" and "therefore". In PSLE you often see just one half — fill in the other.

不但……而且……búdàn...érqiě...— Not only...but also...

Structure: 不但 + A，而且 + B

他不但学习好，而且体育也很棒。

Tā búdàn xuéxí hǎo, érqiě tǐyù yě hěn bàng.

He not only studies well, but his sports are great too.

这家餐馆不但便宜，而且好吃。

Zhè jiā cānguǎn búdàn piányi, érqiě hǎochī.

This restaurant is not only cheap, but also delicious.

💡 The second clause (而且) is always the MORE important or impressive point. Build up from lesser to greater.

📏 Complete Measure Words Table (量词)

Using the correct measure word (量词) is a common PSLE testing point. Here are the 25 most important measure words you need to know:

量词	Pinyin	Used For	Examples
个	gè	General measure word for people, objects, and abstract concepts	一个同学 (a classmate), 三个苹果 (three apples)
只	zhī	Small animals (birds, cats, dogs, insects)	一只小鸟 (a small bird), 两只猫 (two cats)
条	tiáo	Long, thin objects (fish, roads, rivers, trousers)	一条鱼 (a fish), 这条路很长 (this road is long)
本	běn	Books, magazines, notebooks	一本华文课本 (a Chinese textbook), 三本故事书 (three storybooks)
张	zhāng	Flat objects (paper, tables, tickets, photos)	一张桌子 (a table), 两张地铁卡 (two MRT cards)
把	bǎ	Objects with a handle (umbrella, chair, knife, fan)	一把雨伞 (an umbrella), 一把椅子 (a chair)
件	jiàn	Clothing (upper body), matters, luggage	一件校服 (a school uniform), 一件事 (a matter)
双	shuāng	Pairs (shoes, socks, chopsticks, hands)	一双鞋子 (a pair of shoes), 一双筷子 (a pair of chopsticks)
杯	bēi	Cups, glasses of liquid	一杯咖啡 (a cup of coffee), 一杯美禄 (a cup of Milo)
碗	wǎn	Bowls of food or liquid	一碗云吞面 (a bowl of wonton noodles), 一碗汤 (a bowl of soup)
盘	pán	Plates of food	一盘炒饭 (a plate of fried rice), 一盘鸡饭 (a plate of chicken rice)
瓶	píng	Bottles of liquid	一瓶水 (a bottle of water), 一瓶酱油 (a bottle of soy sauce)
块	kuài	Pieces, chunks; also dollars (colloquial)	一块蛋糕 (a piece of cake), 五块钱 (five dollars)
支	zhī	Pens, sticks, long thin objects	一支铅笔 (a pencil), 一支笔 (a pen)
朵	duǒ	Flowers, clouds	一朵花 (a flower), 几朵白云 (a few white clouds)
棵	kē	Trees, plants	一棵大树 (a big tree), 两棵椰子树 (two coconut trees)
辆	liàng	Vehicles (cars, buses, bicycles)	一辆巴士 (a bus), 一辆脚踏车 (a bicycle)
架	jià	Aeroplanes, machines, pianos	一架飞机 (an aeroplane), 一架钢琴 (a piano)
间	jiān	Rooms	一间课室 (a classroom), 一间卧室 (a bedroom)
所	suǒ	Schools, hospitals, buildings (institutional)	一所小学 (a primary school), 一所医院 (a hospital)
位	wèi	People (polite/respectful)	一位老师 (a teacher), 这位同学 (this student)
封	fēng	Letters, envelopes	一封信 (a letter), 两封邮件 (two emails)
幅	fú	Paintings, pictures, calligraphy	一幅画 (a painting), 一幅对联 (a couplet)
首	shǒu	Poems, songs	一首诗 (a poem), 一首国庆日歌曲 (a National Day song)
份	fèn	Portions, copies, sets (newspapers, meals)	一份报纸 (a newspaper), 一份午餐 (a lunch set)

⚠️ Common PSLE Grammar Errors

❌ Wrong	✅ Correct	Rule
他高兴得跳了起来	他高兴地跳了起来	地 + verb (not 得)
漂亮地花	漂亮的花	的 + noun (not 地)
跑的很快	跑得很快	verb + 得 + complement
一个猫	一只猫	Animals use 只, not 个
我把作业做	我把作业做完了	把 sentences need a result (完/好/到)
我被功课做完了	我把功课做完了	I do the action → 把 (not 被)
哥哥比我很高	哥哥比我高	Never add 很 in 比 sentences
我昨天没吃了饭	我昨天没吃饭	没 replaces 了 — never use both
我再学校读书	我在学校读书	在 = at (location); 再 = again
因为下雨，但是我没去	因为下雨，所以我没去	因为...所以 (not 因为...但是)

🧠Quick Check

Which sentence uses 的/地/得 correctly?

A她认真得做功课。

B她认真地做功课。

C她认真的做功课。

D她做得认真地。

🎯 Chapter Quiz: Grammar & Connectors Practice (60 Questions)

🧠

Quick Check

Connectors & Correct Usage Quiz

Showing 10 of 60 questions

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（　　）今天下雨了，（　　）我们不能去操场玩。

（　　）弟弟年纪小，（　　）他已经会自己穿校服了。

（　　）明天是公共假期，我们（　　）不用上学了。

（　　）你吃完饭了，（　　）去洗手吧。

（　　）妈妈很累，（　　）她还是给我们做了晚饭。

妹妹一（　）到游乐场，（　）开心地跑去玩了。

（　　）你不舒服，（　　）告诉老师吧。

（　　）小明很喜欢画画，（　　）他去学画画了。

（　　）外面很热，（　　）我们还是要去操场做早操。

弟弟一（　）听到卖冰淇淋的声音，（　）拉着妈妈跑出去买。

50 questions remaining

🎯Key Takeaway