# B2 Vietnamese grammar (upper intermediate)

> All 104 B2 (upper intermediate) Vietnamese grammar patterns in the directory, each explained in plain English with every example spoken aloud. Free, no account needed.

Source: https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/b2/ · Updated 2026-10-17

The 104 patterns we place at B2, upper intermediate level, by topic — each explained in plain English, every example spoken aloud. Free, no account needed.

Levels are our own estimates: there is no official list of Vietnamese grammar by level yet.

Levels: [A1 (beginner)](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/a1/) · [A2 (elementary)](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/a2/) · [B1 (intermediate)](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/b1/) · B2 (upper intermediate, this page) · [C1 (advanced)](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/c1/)

With filters and search: https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/?level=B2

## Asking questions (5)

- [Could it be that …? phải chăng](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/phai-chang/): is it that …? (written) — `Phải chăng + [statement]?` (formal, written)
- [How could that be! làm sao … được](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/lam-sao-duoc-rhetorical/): that can't happen — `Làm sao (mà) + [verb] + được? · [verb] + làm sao / thế nào + được?`
- [Isn't it obvious? bộ … hả, chẳng phải … sao](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/rhetorical-negative/): rhetorical 'isn't it' — `Bộ + [person] + không + [verb] + hả? · Chẳng phải + [X] + sao? · [person] + không + [verb] + hay sao?`
- [Who all, what all: những ai, những gì](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/nhung-qword-plural/): plural who / what — `những ai · những gì · những cái nào`
- [Whoever … that one: ai … người đó, sao … vậy](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/qword-correlative/): whoever / however … that — `Ai + [verb] (thì) người đó + [verb] · [verb] + [noun] nào (thì) [verb] + [noun] đó · … sao, … vậy`

## Time and when things happen (4)

- [All the way to, as late as: tận](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/tan-all-the-way/): all the way / as late as — `tận + [place or time] · đến tận + [time]`
- [No sooner … than: vừa … đã, chưa … đã](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/vua-da-no-sooner/): no sooner … than — `[person] + vừa (mới) / chưa + [verb 1] + (person 2) + đã + [verb 2] · vừa + [verb 1] + thì + [verb 2] (just as)`
- [Once (when and if): một khi](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/mot-khi-once/): once — `Một khi + [sentence], …` (formal)
- [Originally, by nature: vốn (là), vốn dĩ](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/von-originally/): originally, by nature, always was — `[person or thing] + vốn (là) + [noun] · [person or thing] + vốn + [verb or adjective]`

## Saying no and not (5)

- [Can't help (feeling): không khỏi](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/khong-khoi/): cannot help — `[person] + không khỏi + [feeling verb]` (formal, written)
- [Can't not, so must: không thể không](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/khong-the-khong-must/): cannot help but / must — `[person] + không thể không + [verb]`
- [Everyone without exception: không ai (là) không](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/khong-ai-khong/): there is no one who doesn't — `Không ai (là) không + [verb] · Không + [noun] + nào (là) không + [verb]`
- [It's not that … not: không phải là … không](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/khong-phai-khong/): it isn't that …n't — `(person) + không phải là + (person) + không + [verb]`
- [Not necessarily: chưa hẳn, không hẳn](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/chua-han/): not necessarily — `[statement] + chưa hẳn / không hẳn (là) + [conclusion]`

## Linking ideas (10)

- [As a …: là + noun phrase, then the sentence](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/la-as-a/): as (being) a … — `Là + [noun phrase], [subject] + [verb] · Với tư cách (là) + [role], …` (formal)
- [However (written): tuy nhiên, song](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/tuy-nhien-however/): however — `[statement]. Tuy nhiên, [statement] · [A], song + [B] · Song, [statement]` (formal, written, At work)
- [If only: giá mà, phải chi](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/gia-nhu-if-only/): if only / I wish — `Giá (mà / như) + [sentence] (+ thì + [sentence]) · Phải chi + [sentence]`
- [Let alone: … nữa là, huống hồ, huống chi](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/huong-ho-let-alone/): let alone, much less — `[A] + còn + [verb], nữa là + [B] · …, huống hồ / huống chi + [B] (written) · Ngay cả + [A] + cũng / còn + [verb], nữa là + [B]`
- [On the contrary: ngược lại, trái lại](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/nguoc-lai-contrary/): on the contrary, conversely — `[statement]. Ngược lại / Trái lại, [opposite statement] · [A], còn [B] thì ngược lại`
- [So … that: đến nỗi, đến mức](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/den-noi-so-that/): so … that — `[adjective or verb] + đến nỗi / đến mức + [result]`
- [Suppose that: giả sử (rằng)](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/gia-su-suppose/): suppose that — `Giả sử / Giả dụ (rằng) + [sentence] + thì …` (formal)
- [Unless: trừ khi, trừ phi](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/tru-phi-unless/): unless — `[sentence] + trừ khi / trừ phi + [sentence]`
- [Whenever (every time): hễ (cứ) … là](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/he-whenever/): whenever — `Hễ (cứ) + [sentence] + là / thì + [sentence]`
- [With the aim of: nhằm](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/nham-aim/): aimed at — `[action] + nhằm + [verb]` (formal, written)

## Words at the start and end of a sentence (2)

- [Running into something bad: verb + phải](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/phai-bad-luck/): (accidentally) hit on something bad — `[verb] + phải + [object]`
- [So very …! Adj + ơi là + Adj](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/oi-la/): so so …! — `[adjective] + ơi là + [adjective]!` (spoken, Messages and social media)

## Things, counting and numbers (5)

- [Emotional cái in front of a noun](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/cai-emphatic/): (emphasis, emotion) — `cái + [classifier] + [noun] · cái + [name] (Northern colloquial)` (spoken)
- [So many: bao nhiêu là](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/bao-nhieu-la-so-many/): so many, loads of — `bao nhiêu là + [noun]`
- [The beautiful, the good: cái + adjective](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/cai-nominal/): the … (abstract) — `cái + [adjective or verb]` (formal, written)
- [The day when, the reason why: noun + mà, khi, vì sao](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/khi-ma-when-relative/): when / why (after a noun) — `[time noun] + (mà) + [sentence] · [time noun] + khi + [sentence] (written) · lý do / nguyên nhân + vì sao / tại sao + [sentence]` (formal)
- [The entire (formal): toàn, toàn bộ](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/toan-whole-formal/): the whole, entire — `toàn + [word for a place or group] (toàn quốc, toàn thành phố) · toàn bộ + [noun] (toàn bộ số tiền)` (formal)

## How much, and comparing (6)

- [Adjectives with a built-in very: trắng tinh, nặng trịch (no rất)](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/intensified-adjectives/): intensified adjectives — `[adjective] + [fixed syllable]`
- [Extremely: hết sức, vô cùng](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/het-suc-vo-cung/): extremely — `hết sức / vô cùng + [two-syllable adjective or verb]` (formal)
- [In a … way: một cách + adjective](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/mot-cach/): in a … manner — `[verb] + một cách + [two-syllable adjective]` (formal)
- [Manner word before the verb in formal writing: tích cực tham gia](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/manner-before-verb/): adverb before verb (written) — `[two-syllable adjective] + [verb] (= [verb] + [adjective])` (formal, written)
- [No less than: không kém (gì)](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/khong-kem-gi/): no less than — `[A] + [adjective] + không kém (gì) + [B]` (formal)
- [Second biggest, after X: … thứ hai, sau …](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/thu-hai-sau/): second …est after … — `[noun] + [adjective] + thứ hai + [place], sau + [noun 2]`

## Là, có, and how verbs work together (5)

- [By, in written passives: được / bị … bởi](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/boi-passive/): by (in written passives) — `[subject] + được / bị + [verb] + bởi + [cause]` (formal, written)
- [Choosing or taking as: bầu / cử / chọn / lấy … làm](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/bau-lam/): elect as — `bầu / cử / bổ nhiệm / chọn + [person] + làm + [role] · [person] + được bầu làm + [role]` (formal, written)
- [Happen, take place: xảy ra, diễn ra, with the event after the verb](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/xay-ra-dien-ra/): happen / take place — `[event] + xảy ra / diễn ra + [time or place] · [place] + xảy ra + [event]` (formal)
- [Hearing this, seeing that: a verb phrase before the subject (Nghe tin, cô ấy khóc)](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/fronted-verb-phrase/): on hearing / seeing …, the subject … — `[verb phrase], [subject] + [verb 2] · Thấy + [sentence], [subject] + (liền) + [verb]`
- [là before an adjective for emphasis or in formal writing](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/la-adj-emphatic/): emphatic là + adjective — `[person or thing] + là + (rất) + [adjective] · … rằng + [subject] + là + [adjective]` (formal, written)

## Talking to and about people (1)

- [He, she with a negative tone: hắn, y, ả](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/han-negative/): he / she (contemptuous) — `hắn · y · ả`

## How words are built (8)

- [… and stuff (dismissive): sách siếc, học hiếc](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/redup-iec/): X and all that (dismissive) — `[word] + [copy with -iếc]` (spoken, Messages and social media)
- [Making something more so: word + hóa (hiện đại hóa)](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/hoa-ize/): -ize / -ization — `[noun or adjective] + hóa` (formal)
- [Naming doctrines and fields: chủ nghĩa + word, word + học](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/chu-nghia-ism/): -ism / -logy — `chủ nghĩa + [noun or adjective] (chủ nghĩa cá nhân) · [field] + học (xã hội học)` (formal)
- [New, former, great before the noun: tân, cựu, đại](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/sino-adj-before/): new / former / big (before the noun) — `tân / cựu / đại + [Sino-Vietnamese noun] (= [noun] + mới / cũ)` (formal)
- [Rhyming doubles for things in general: cây cối, máy móc](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/redup-collective/): … and the like — `[noun] + [rhyming copy] (cây cối, máy móc)`
- [The quality of: tính + word (tính khả thi)](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/tinh-ity/): -ity / -ness — `tính + [adjective or noun]` (formal)
- [Three- and four-syllable doubles intensify: vội vội vàng vàng](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/redup-intense/): intensified — `[AB] → [A A B B] · sound words doubled (ầm ầm)`
- [Un-, non-, -less in Sino-Vietnamese words: bất-, vô-, phi-](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/bat-vo-negating/): un- / -less — `bất + [Sino-Vietnamese root] · vô + [Sino-Vietnamese root] · phi + [Sino-Vietnamese root]` (formal)

## News, official and academic writing (52)

- [A whole series of: hàng loạt, một loạt](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/hang-loat/): a series of / many — `hàng loạt / một loạt + [noun]` (formal)
- [Accordingly, under which: theo đó](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/theo-do/): accordingly — `[rule or plan]. Theo đó, [detail]` (formal, written)
- [Adding a point: bên cạnh đó, hơn nữa](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/ben-canh-do/): besides, moreover — `[statement]. Bên cạnh đó / Hơn nữa, [statement]` (formal, written)
- [As of (a date), up to: tính đến](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/tinh-den/): as of — `Tính đến + [date], [figure]` (formal)
- [As the law lays down: theo quy định (tại khoản … Điều …)](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/theo-quy-dinh/): as stipulated (in) — `theo quy định (của pháp luật) · theo quy định tại (điểm [a]) khoản [1] Điều [5] + [law]` (formal)
- [As well as: A cũng như B](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/cung-nhu/): as well as — `[A] + cũng như + [B]` (formal)
- [At the same time, also: đồng thời](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/dong-thoi/): simultaneously / also — `[action 1], đồng thời + [action 2] · Đồng thời, …` (formal)
- [Based on: dựa trên, trên cơ sở](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/dua-tren-basis/): based on — `dựa trên / dựa vào / trên cơ sở + [noun]` (formal)
- [Belonging to an organisation or category: thuộc](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/thuoc-belongs/): belonging to, under — `[unit] + thuộc + [organisation] · [item] + thuộc + [category]` (formal)
- [Carrying out: tiến hành / thực hiện + verb](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/tien-hanh/): carry out — `tiến hành / thực hiện + [verb or noun]` (formal)
- [Causing in the news: khiến, gây, dẫn đến](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/khien-cause/): make, cause, lead to — `[cause] + khiến (cho) + [person or thing] + [verb or adjective] · [cause] + gây (ra) + [harm noun] · [cause] + dẫn đến / dẫn tới + [result]` (formal)
- [Certain or definitely: nhất định after a noun or before a verb](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/nhat-dinh-certain/): certain, given (after a noun); definitely (before a verb) — `(một) + [noun] + nhất định · ở một mức độ nhất định · [person] + nhất định + (sẽ / phải) + [verb] (definitely)` (formal)
- [Consisting of, including: bao gồm](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/bao-gom/): including / consisting of — `[whole] + bao gồm + [parts]` (formal)
- [Contributing to: góp phần + verb](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/gop-phan-contribute/): contribute to, help to — `[cause or action] + góp phần + [verb phrase] · góp phần vào + [noun]` (formal)
- [Expected to (news): dự kiến](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/du-kien/): is expected to — `[event] + dự kiến (sẽ) + [verb] · dự kiến + [time]` (formal, At work)
- [Forced to: buộc phải](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/buoc-phai/): be forced to — `[subject] + buộc phải + [verb]` (formal)
- [Have been and still are: đã và đang](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/da-va-dang/): has been (and continues) — `[subject] + đã và đang + [verb]` (formal, written)
- [Having a … character: mang tính](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/mang-tinh/): of a … nature — `[subject] + mang tính + [quality noun]` (formal, written)
- [Holding a view: cho rằng](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/cho-rang/): hold that, believe — `[person] + cho rằng + [sentence] · Nhiều ý kiến cho rằng …` (formal)
- [In general … in particular: X nói chung, Y nói riêng](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/noi-chung-noi-rieng/): X in general and Y in particular — `[A] nói chung và [B] nói riêng · [A] nói chung, [B] nói riêng` (formal, written)
- [In terms of, from the angle of: xét về, về mặt, từ góc độ](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/xet-ve/): in terms of — `Xét về / Về mặt + [aspect noun], … · [adjective] + về mặt + [aspect noun] · Từ / Ở góc độ + [viewpoint], …` (formal)
- [In the event that, except where: trong trường hợp, trừ trường hợp](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/trong-truong-hop/): in case / except where — `Trong trường hợp + [condition], [rule] · [rule], trừ trường hợp + [condition]` (formal)
- [It is necessary to (no subject): cần + verb](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/can-impersonal/): X needs to be done — `Cần + [verb] + [object] (no subject) · Cần lưu ý / Cần nhấn mạnh (rằng) + [point]` (formal, written)
- [It is reported that: được biết](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/duoc-biet/): it is understood that — `Được biết, [statement]` (formal, written)
- [It seems (written): dường như](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/duong-nhu/): it seems — `Dường như + [sentence] · [subject] + dường như + [verb]` (formal, written)
- [Likely to, able to: có khả năng](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/co-kha-nang/): likely to / able to — `[subject] + có khả năng + [verb]` (formal)
- [Making it possible: tạo điều kiện (cho) + person + verb](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/tao-dieu-kien-enable/): create the conditions for, enable — `[subject] + tạo điều kiện (cho) + [person or thing] + [verb] · tạo điều kiện thuận lợi (cho) + …` (formal, At work)
- [Meanwhile, whereas: trong khi đó](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/trong-khi-do/): meanwhile / whereas — `[statement]. Trong khi đó, [contrasting statement]` (formal)
- [Most of, the majority: phần lớn, đa số](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/phan-lon/): the majority — `phần lớn / đa số + [group] + [verb]` (formal)
- [Of which, among them: …, trong đó …](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/trong-do/): of which — `[total], trong đó + (có) + [part]` (formal)
- [On the part of: về phía](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/ve-phia/): on the part of / for (party) — `Về phía + [party], …` (formal, written)
- [Pursuant to, on the basis of: căn cứ (vào)](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/can-cu/): pursuant to / on the basis of — `Căn cứ (vào) + [law, decree]; …` (formal, written)
- [Regarded as: được xem là / được coi là](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/duoc-xem-la/): is regarded as — `[subject] + được xem là / được coi là + [noun]` (formal)
- [Regarding a matter: về việc (V/v in official letters)](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/ve-viec/): regarding / about (a matter) — `[document] + về việc + [matter] · V/v + [matter] · về việc + [verb phrase]` (formal, written, At work)
- [Reporting what someone said: cho biết, khẳng định, nhấn mạnh](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/cho-biet-reporting/): said / stated — `[person] + cho biết / khẳng định / nhấn mạnh (rằng) + [statement]` (formal, written)
- [Respectively, in turn: lần lượt (là)](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/lan-luot/): respectively — `[A] và [B] + lần lượt là + [x] và [y]` (formal, written)
- [Responsible for: có trách nhiệm + verb, chịu trách nhiệm về](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/co-trach-nhiem/): have the duty to / answer for — `[body] + có trách nhiệm + [verb] · [person or body] + chịu trách nhiệm + về + [matter] · chịu trách nhiệm + trước + [authority]` (formal)
- [Said to be, believed to: được cho là](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/duoc-cho-la/): is believed / said to — `[subject] + được cho là + [verb or noun]` (formal, written)
- [Setting the frame: trong bối cảnh, trong quá trình, trong khuôn khổ](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/trong-boi-canh-context/): in the context of / in the course of / within the framework of — `Trong bối cảnh + [situation], [main sentence] · [event] + trong quá trình + [verb or noun] · Trong khuôn khổ + [visit, programme or agreement], …` (formal, written)
- [Showing that (results, data): cho thấy](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/cho-thay/): shows that — `[result / data / study] + cho thấy + [finding]` (formal)
- [Since, or from (a date) on: kể từ](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/ke-tu/): since / as of — `kể từ + [date or event] · có hiệu lực kể từ ngày + [date]` (formal)
- [Stating a share or a total: chiếm + percent, (ước) đạt + figure](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/chiem-account/): account for / reach (a figure) — `[part] + chiếm + [percent] (+ [whole]) · [thing] + (ước) đạt + [number or percent]` (formal)
- [Summing up: tóm lại, nhìn chung, như vậy](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/tom-lai/): in short / overall / thus — `Tóm lại / Nhìn chung / Như vậy, [summary]` (formal)
- [Tending to: có xu hướng](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/co-xu-huong/): tend to — `[subject] + có xu hướng + [verb or adjective]` (formal)
- [That is, in other words: tức là, nghĩa là, nói cách khác](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/noi-cach-khac/): that is / in other words — `[term or statement] + tức là / nghĩa là + [explanation] · (Hay) nói cách khác, [restatement]` (formal)
- [The following, below: sau đây, dưới đây](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/sau-day/): the following — `[noun] + sau đây / dưới đây · như sau:` (formal)
- [The past and coming period in the news: vừa qua, tới](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/vua-qua-toi/): recent / upcoming — `[period] + vừa qua · trong thời gian tới · [period] + tới` (formal)
- [Through, by way of: thông qua](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/thong-qua/): through / via — `thông qua + [means or channel]` (formal)
- [To some extent: phần nào, ở một mức độ nào đó](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/phan-nao/): to some extent — `… phần nào + [verb] · ở một mức độ nào đó, …` (formal)
- [Under or with someone: dưới sự … của, với sự … của](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/su-cua-news/): under the leadership of / with the support of — `dưới sự + [lãnh đạo / chỉ đạo / điều hành] + của + [person] · với sự + [hỗ trợ / tham gia] + của + [person or group]` (formal, written)
- [Up or down on the same period: tăng / giảm … so với cùng kỳ](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/so-voi-cung-ky/): year on year — `[figure] + tăng / giảm + [amount] + so với cùng kỳ (năm trước)` (formal, written)
- [Worth noting, considerable: đáng + verb](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/dang-chu-y/): worth …ing / notable — `đáng + chú ý / kể / lo ngại · [noun] + đáng + [verb]` (formal)

## More patterns (1)

- [So what? … thì đã sao](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/thi-sao-so-what/): so what? — `[fact] + thì đã sao (nào)?` (spoken)

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