# Intermediate Chinese Grammar Workbook: 20 Patterns for Longer Sentences Complements, 把 and 被, linked clauses and time words, with readings and practice after every two patterns Source: https://www.saymei.app/resources/downloads/intermediate-chinese-grammar-workbook ## At a glance - Level: Intermediate · HSK 3 - Format: Workbook · PDF · 46 pages · US Letter (prints on A4) - Price: Free · free with a saymei account · updated Oct 27, 2026 ## Download Free with a SayMei account, on the workbook's page: https://www.saymei.app/resources/downloads/intermediate-chinese-grammar-workbook. SayMei emails a copy too. ## A line from the workbook 虽然有点儿累，但是我很高兴。 (Suīrán yǒudiǎnr lèi, dànshì wǒ hěn gāoxìng.) — Although I'm a bit tired, I'm very happy. ## By the end you can - Tell past details with 是…的. Ask and say when, where, how or with whom something happened. 是 goes right before the detail and 的 at the end, and 了 never goes inside. 我是坐火车来的。 (Wǒ shì zuò huǒchē lái de.): I came by train. - Say how well or how fast someone does something. Verb + 得 + adjective describes the way an action is done, with the right word order when the verb has an object. 饭馆的人说话说得很快。 (Fànguǎn de rén shuōhuà shuō de hěn kuài.): The people at the restaurant talk very fast. - Show the result and direction of an action. Result complements 完, 好, 到 and 懂 say how an action ended, and directional complements say which way something moves. 我听懂了。 (Wǒ tīngdǒng le.): I understood what I heard. - Say whether you can get a result, and use 把. Potential forms like 听不懂 and 吃不完, then 把 + thing + verb + a result or place, for what you do to a thing and where it ends up. 请把门关上。 (Qǐng bǎ mén guānshang.): Please close the door. - Say what happened to someone with 被. The thing comes first, then 被 + who did it + verb + result. Like 把, the verb needs something after it, and 被 often reports something unwanted. 我的蛋糕被弟弟吃了。 (Wǒ de dàngāo bèi dìdi chī le.): My cake was eaten by my little brother. - Describe change and link two actions. 越来越 for something that keeps changing, 越…越… for one thing growing with another, and 一…就… for one thing happening as soon as another does. - Join ideas with 虽然…但是 and 如果…就. Chinese uses both words of the pair, where English uses one. 就 goes after the subject of the second part, right before the verb. 如果明天下雨，我们就不去了。 (Rúguǒ míngtiān xià yǔ, wǒmen jiù bú qù le.): If it rains tomorrow, we won't go. - Add a point, make an exception and say "even". 只要…就 for a condition that's enough, 不但…而且 for a stronger second point, 除了…以外 for besides or except, and 连…都 for surprise. 除了看电影以外，我还看了一本关于北京的书。 (Chúle kàn diànyǐng yǐwài, wǒ hái kàn le yì běn guānyú Běijīng de shū.): Besides seeing a film, I read a book about Beijing. - Choose the right time word and join actions. 又 or 再 for "again" in the past or future, 才 or 就 for later or earlier than expected, 对…来说 and 关于 for views and topics, and 一边…一边…. 对你来说，休息也很重要啊。 (Duì nǐ lái shuō, xiūxi yě hěn zhòngyào a.): Rest matters for you too, you know. ## What's inside - Pattern 1: 是…的 for Past Details - Pattern 2: V得 + Adjective - Patterns 1–2: Practice: 是…的 and V得 - Pattern 3: Result Complements - Pattern 4: Directional Complements - Patterns 3–4: Practice: Results and Directions - Pattern 5: Potential Complements - Pattern 6: 把 for What Happens to It - Patterns 5–6: Practice: Can-Do Forms and 把 - Reading 1: Lin Hao's First Week - Review 1: Review: Patterns 1–6 - Pattern 7: 被 for Things Done to You - Pattern 8: 越来越 - Patterns 7–8: Practice: 被 and 越来越 - Pattern 9: 越…越… - Pattern 10: 一…就… - Patterns 9–10: Practice: 越…越… and 一…就… - Pattern 11: 虽然…但是 - Pattern 12: 如果…就 - Patterns 11–12: Practice: 虽然…但是 and 如果…就 - Reading 2: A Rainy Saturday - Review 2: Review: Patterns 7–12 - Pattern 13: 只要…就 - Pattern 14: 不但…而且 - Patterns 13–14: Practice: 只要…就 and 不但…而且 - Pattern 15: 除了…以外 - Pattern 16: 连…都/也 - Patterns 15–16: Practice: 除了 and 连 - Pattern 17: 又 vs 再 - Pattern 18: 才 vs 就 for Time - Patterns 17–18: Practice: 又, 再, 才 and 就 - Pattern 19: 对…来说 and 关于 - Pattern 20: 一边…一边… - Patterns 19–20: Practice: 对…来说, 关于, 一边 - Reading 3: Mei Lin's Advice - Review 3: Review: Patterns 13–20 - Patterns 1–10: The 20 Patterns at a Glance (1) - Patterns 11–20: The 20 Patterns at a Glance (2) ## How to use this book One pattern a page, a practice page after every two, and a short reading and review after every six to eight patterns. Two patterns and their practice page make a good session. - Sessions 1–3: Patterns 1–6. 是…的, 得, result and direction complements, potential forms and 把. Say each example aloud, then do the practice page. - Session 4: Reading and review 1. Read Lin Hao's First Week on page 12 and spot the patterns, then do the review conversation on page 13. - Sessions 5–7: Patterns 7–12. 被, 越来越, 越…越…, 一…就…, 虽然…但是 and 如果…就, then the reading and review on pages 23–24. - Sessions 8–11: Patterns 13–20. 只要, 不但, 除了, 连, 又 and 再, 才 and 就, 对…来说, 关于 and 一边…一边…, then the reading and review on pages 37–38. - After that: Patterns at a glance. Pages 39–40 list all 20 patterns for a quick check whenever you write or speak. ## Who it's for Learners past the beginner patterns who can make short sentences but want longer, more natural ones, with complements, 把 and 被, and linked pairs. Before you start: The beginner patterns: 了, 过, 比, 在, 想 and 要, 因为…所以 and measure words. If those are shaky, the Beginner Chinese Grammar Workbook covers them. ## What level is it? Intermediate. It assumes you know the basic patterns and moves on to complements, 把 and 被, and the linked pairs that make sentences longer. ## Are there readings as well as exercises? Yes, three short stories: Lin Hao's First Week, A Rainy Saturday and Mei Lin's Advice. Each uses the patterns that come before it. ## Does each pattern show the common mistake? Many Mei Lin notes name one, such as putting 了 inside 是…的, or using a bare verb with 把, and some practice pages ask you to choose the correct sentence of two. ## Is this workbook free? Yes. The whole 46-page PDF is free, and you can look through its pages here before you download. There's no card and nothing to pay. ## Do I need a SayMei account? Yes, to download the PDF, and the account is free: sign up with Google, Apple or your email address. With it we email you a copy of the workbook, keep every workbook you download on your account on all your devices, save your place in the free online practice, and you can practise speaking with Mei Lin, SayMei's AI tutor. ## How do I print it? The PDF is US Letter size. On A4 paper, choose "Fit to page" (or "Scale to fit") in the print dialog so nothing is cut off. Print the whole workbook or only the pages you need; colour looks best, and black and white works too. ## Can I print copies for my class? Yes. Print as many copies as you like for your own class or family. To share it, send this page: everyone can download their own copy. Version 2026-10, updated Oct 27, 2026.