HSK Grammar and Sentence Structures Flashcards

Which HSK grammar point uses 连…都/也… to express emphasis?

Answer: 连 + even X + 都/也 + verb (even X does/doesn't ...)

连…都/也… emphasizes an extreme case, e.g., 他连名字都不会写 (He can't even write his own name).

What is the purpose of the modal verb 应该 (yīnggāi) in Chinese sentences?

Answer: Should / ought to (moral obligation or logical expectation)

应该 expresses moral obligation ('should') or logical expectation ('ought to') and is softer than 必须 (must).

Which Chinese time expression comes BEFORE the verb in a sentence?

Answer: Time expressions always precede the verb (and often the subject)

In Chinese, time expressions (昨天, 明年, 三点钟) come before the verb — often at the start of the sentence or after the subject.

What does the structure 是…的 emphasize in Chinese grammar?

Answer: Emphasizes when, where, how, or by whom a past action occurred

是…的 is used to highlight circumstances of a completed action, e.g., 我是昨天来的 (It was yesterday that I came).

Which particle marks the topic of a sentence in Chinese, similar to 'as for'?

Answer: 呢

呢 (ne) can mark a topic comment structure or form a follow-up question, e.g., 我很好，你呢？ (I'm fine, how about you?).

What grammatical role does 虽然…但是… play in Chinese?

Answer: Concession: although … nevertheless …

虽然…但是… introduces a concession — acknowledging a fact in the first clause but contrasting it in the second.