Intermediate Chinese Grammar
Bridge the gap between basic phrases and fluent expression by mastering the structural logic, nuanced particles, and complex sentence patterns of Mandarin.
Like Duolingo, but for Intermediate Chinese Grammar. Tomo turns the whole topic into a game you play five minutes a day, until it actually sticks.
95 levels across 8 sections, about 190 minutes end to end, roughly 38 days at five minutes a day. It moves through Expressing Nuance in Action, Structuring Complex Sentences, Precision with Time and Aspect, Comparison and Degree, Logical Connections and Flow, Emphasis and Rhetorical Flair, Modality and Attitude, and The Mechanics of Formal Chinese. It assumes you already know the basics.
Free forever · No credit card · iPhone & Android
Key ideas in Intermediate Chinese Grammar
- Verbs like 'zhao' (look) only describe the action, not the result
- Adding 'dao' or 'zhao' as a complement confirms the outcome was achieved
- Resultative complements are placed immediately after the verb
- The distinction between an action's attempt and its specific outcome
- 'Wan' indicates a chronological end to an activity
- 'Hao' implies the action reached a standard of readiness or quality
- Choosing 'hao' suggests a positive or successful state of completion
- The nuanced difference between 'wan' (completion) and 'hao' (satisfaction)
- 'Dao' marks the successful perception of a sense (seeing, hearing)
- 'Dao' indicates reaching a physical destination or a specific time
- 'Dao' signals the attainment of a difficult-to-get object
- 'Mei' or 'meiyou' negates a past result or a change in state
- Using 'bu' negates the intention or habit, not the resultative outcome
- The complement remains in the sentence even when negated by 'mei'
- The versatile applications of the complement 'dao'
- Correct negation of resultative outcomes using 'mei'
You've tried the other tabs
Thirty open tabs. Four facts you actually kept.
You watched. You nodded. By Sunday it was gone.
One answer, then back to scrolling.
Eight weeks. You meant to finish. You didn't.
Tomo gives Intermediate Chinese Grammar the Duolingo treatment: levels, streaks, and quick quizzes that test what you just learned. That game loop is what the tabs above never had, so it's the one you actually finish.
Here's what playing it feels like
A real question from this course. Take your best guess.
If you want to tell a friend you successfully found your lost wallet, which structure should you use?
Get it right to open this lesson and 94 more in the app.
How to learn Intermediate Chinese Grammar, step by step
Go in order. 95 short levels across 8 sections, about 3 hours 10 minutes in all, five minutes a day.
- 1
Expressing Nuance in Action
- Refining Resultative Complements
- Directional Complements beyond Movement
- Mastering the Potential Complement
- 2
Structuring Complex Sentences
- The 'Ba' Construction in Multi-Step Actions
- Passive Voice with 'Bei' and Alternatives
- Serial Verbs and Pivotal Sentences
- 3
Precision with Time and Aspect
- Distinguishing 'Le': Completion vs. Change
- Duration and Frequency of Actions
- Expressing Experience and Imminence
- 4
Comparison and Degree
- Advanced 'Bi' Comparisons and Disparities
- Expressing Extremes and Sufficiency
- Correlative Progress with 'Yue... Yue...'
- 5
Logical Connections and Flow
- Hypothetical and Conditional Scenarios
- Concessive Clauses and Unexpected Results
- Transitioning and Summarizing in Speech
- 6
Emphasis and Rhetorical Flair
- The 'Shi... de' Construction for Focus
- Rhetorical Questions and Double Negatives
- Emphatic Adverbs for Tone
- 7
Modality and Attitude
- Expressing Probability and Inference
- Softening Requests and Commands
- Expressing Regret and Counterfactuals
- 8
The Mechanics of Formal Chinese
- Nominalization and Abstract Subjects
- Reduplication for Nuance and Tone
- Word Order Constraints in Long Sentences
8 sections · 24 units · 95 levels. Built to play, not to enroll.
Questions about Intermediate Chinese Grammar
How do I learn Intermediate Chinese Grammar?
Go in order: start with Expressing Nuance in Action, then Structuring Complex Sentences, then Precision with Time and Aspect, then Comparison and Degree, and 4 more sections after that. On Tomo that's 95 short levels, about 3 hours 10 minutes in all, played five minutes a day. Start free and play the first level in under a minute.
Is there a Duolingo-style app for Intermediate Chinese Grammar?
Yes. Tomo works like Duolingo: short daily lessons, streaks and quick quizzes. Intermediate Chinese Grammar is one of its free courses, and you can type any other topic to get a course of your own.
Is the Intermediate Chinese Grammar course free?
Yes. Intermediate Chinese Grammar is playable on Tomo's free plan, which doesn't expire. No credit card, no waitlist. Download the app and start your first lesson.
How long does it take to learn Intermediate Chinese Grammar?
95 levels across 8 sections, about 3 hours 10 minutes of play in total. It's built for five minutes a day, so you finish it a little at a time instead of all at once.
Do I need any background to start Intermediate Chinese Grammar?
No. It's pitched at an intermediate level, so it starts where you are and builds up. If you can tap a phone, you can start.
Tomo is in ChatGPT
Tomo is also a ChatGPT plugin: the same playable courses, built and played inside your chat.
Add Tomo to ChatGPT- What to ask
- “Make me a Tomo course on black holes.” “Turn this chat into a Tomo course.”
- What you get
- Quick questions with instant feedback, hearts and stars, ready to play in about a minute.
- Where it goes
- No sign-up to start. Connect your Tomo account and your streak carries on in the app.
You pick the voice
Intermediate Chinese Grammar is taught in the Professor style: clear, structured, thorough. Want a different feel? In the app you can spin up the same topic in any of Tomo's teaching styles. Same facts, totally different vibe.
More Language on Tomo
Conversational Chinese Fluency
Bridge the gap between textbook grammar and natural, native-level expression. Master the nuances of particles, resultative structures, and cultural subtext to speak Chinese with confidence and character.
Hindi: Beyond the Basics
Move past simple greetings and start expressing your opinions, sharing stories, and navigating real-world Indian social life with confidence. Learn to handle complex social situations and understand the nuances of daily conversation.
Thai Sentence Architecture
Master the fluid logic of Thai syntax, from topic-comment structures and serial verb chains to the subtle social nuances of sentence-final particles.
Vietnamese Beyond the Basics
Master the tonal nuances, complex social hierarchies, and rich descriptive vocabulary of the Vietnamese language to communicate like a local.
Fluent Spanish: Beyond the Basics
Stop translating in your head and start feeling the rhythm of the language. Master the art of natural conversation, subtle emotional cues, and the hidden logic of native speakers.
Chinese Beyond the Textbook
Move past stiff, robotic sentences and start speaking Mandarin with the natural rhythm and nuance of a native speaker.
Start Intermediate Chinese Grammar today.
Download Tomo, search Intermediate Chinese Grammar, and play your first lesson in under a minute.