MandarinGo.

CHINESE GRAMMAR

Chinese sentence order and grammar guide: time, place, 了/过 and 把

Most unnatural Chinese sentences come from applying your native language’s word order to Mandarin. Learning four structural rules—where to place time and location, when to use 了 or 过, and how 把 reorders the object—solves the majority of HSK 1–5 writing and speaking errors.

Try the examples without signing in Continue to AI practice

Public practice

Read the examples, answer the original tasks and reveal model answers on this page. No account or microphone is needed for these text-based exercises.

Personalized AI practice

New users complete a short assessment, sign in and consent to AI text processing. Usage allowances depend on the current plan; AI feedback can be wrong.

Who is this practice for?

For independent learners who want to build and vary spoken answers to everyday prompts. The public tasks can be spoken aloud; AI feedback uses text and does not score pronunciation, tones or pauses.

MandarinGo editorial team · Updated

Quick answer

Mandarin Chinese word order follows Subject + Time + Place + Verb + Object, places all modifiers before the noun with 的, distinguishes completed actions (了) from past experience (过), and uses 把 + Object + Verb + Complement when an action moves or finishes a known object.

Practise with original questions

Choose one answer per question, then check the explanations. Original exercises, not an official exam or an AI assessment.

These exercises run in your browser. Answers are not sent to the AI service or saved to your account. Without JavaScript, open each answer below.

You can check one question at a time, or answer every question and check the complete set. Retry clears only incorrect choices.

1. 哪句话符合中文“主语 + 时间 + 地点 + 动作”的标准语序？
Answer and explanation

我每天晚上在房间里学习中文。

Neutral Mandarin statements follow Subject (我) + Time (每天晚上) + Place (在房间里) + Verb + Object (学习中文). Placing time and location at the end copies English word order.

2. 想表达“她昨天在咖啡店买的蛋糕”，哪项语序正确？
Answer and explanation

她昨天在咖啡店买的蛋糕

In Mandarin, relative clauses and modifiers must precede the noun they describe and connect with 的: 她昨天在咖啡店买的 (modifier) + 蛋糕 (noun).

3. 把“我已经做完了今天的练习”改写为“把”字句，哪项正确？
Answer and explanation

我已经把今天的练习做完了。

Adverbs such as 已经 must stand before 把, followed by the definite object (今天的练习) and the verb with its resultative complement (做完了).

Try it with a real sentence

Chinese example

我昨天在书店把那本中文书买回来了。

Pinyin
Wǒ zuótiān zài shūdiàn bǎ nà běn zhōngwén shū mǎi huílái le.
Meaning
Yesterday at the bookstore, I bought that Chinese book and brought it back.
Why it works
This sentence combines all core word-order slots: Subject (我) + Time (昨天) + Place (在书店) + 把 Object (把那本中文书) + Verb + Complement + 了 (买回来了).
Original sentence
我学习中文昨天在学校。
Suggested correction
我昨天在学校学习中文。

Time and location normally come before the action in this neutral statement.

Original sentence
我买了一个书。
Suggested correction
我买了一本书。

本 is a common measure word for books. Use 一本书 rather than 一个书.

Original sentence
这是我书。
Suggested correction
这是我的书。

的 marks possession here: 我的书 means “my book”.

Your turn

Follow the same order (Subject + Time + Place + 把 + Object + Verb + Complement): Today at the library, I finished my homework.

Show answer and explanation

我今天在图书馆把作业做完了。

This sentence combines all core word-order slots: Subject (我) + Time (昨天) + Place (在书店) + 把 Object (把那本中文书) + Verb + Complement + 了 (买回来了).

Read the explanation, hide the answer, then produce a new sentence of your own.

Continue with MandarinGo

Start writing practice

Original practice examples, not official exam questions. AI feedback can make mistakes. New learners complete a short assessment and sign in before AI practice.

Rule 1: Subject + Time + Place + Action

Unlike English, French or Russian—where time and location usually appear at the end of a sentence—neutral Mandarin statements place time and location before the main verb: 我今天在学校学习中文 (I + today + at school + study Chinese).

Rule 2: Separating 了 (completion/change) from past tense

Mandarin does not conjugate verbs for past tense. 了 marks a completed action or a new situation, while 过 marks a past experience. Habitual past actions or states with 昨天 often need no 了 at all, whereas completed bounded actions require it.

Rule 3: Using 把 when an action changes or moves a known object

When a verb moves, finishes or alters a specific object—such as putting a book on the table (把书放在桌子上) or finishing homework (把作业做完)—Mandarin uses 把 + object + verb + complement rather than placing the object after the verb.

Rule 4: Modifier + 的 + Noun order

For learners speaking Thai, Indonesian or French—where adjectives and relative clauses often follow the noun—remember that Mandarin modifiers always come before the noun they describe, linked by 的 (我昨天买的书, the book I bought yesterday).

Practice checklist and model answers

How to practise effectively

Read the task, cover the model and answer independently. Compare the highlighted pattern, then change one detail and try again. These are original learning tasks, not official exam questions.

  1. Task

    Fix the word-order error in 我学习中文今天在家里.

    One possible answer

    我今天在家里学习中文。

    Check your answer

    Place time (今天) and location (在家里) before the main verb phrase (学习中文).

  2. Task

    Rewrite 我放在桌子上那本书了 using a natural 把 structure.

    One possible answer

    我把那本书放在桌子上了。

    Check your answer

    Move the known object (那本书) after 把 and before the verb + location complement (放在桌子上).

QUESTIONS

Before you begin

Is MandarinGo an official HSK exam provider?

No. MandarinGo uses HSK levels to organize learning difficulty. Its exercises and recommendations are educational practice, not official exam papers, scores or certification.

Can beginners use these guides?

Yes. Start with HSK 1 or the free level assessment. Pinyin, translations and explanations help beginners understand each step before moving to harder material.