Difference between revisions of "Expressing lateness with "cai""
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| − | Note that verbs following 才 cannot take 了，as the action does not have the sense of being completed. So, in the above situation, it is wrong to say "昨天晚上我的女儿一点半才回家了 | + | Note that verbs following 才 cannot take 了，as the action does not have the sense of being completed. So, in the above situation, it is wrong to say: |
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| + | <li class="x"> 昨天晚上我的女儿一点半才回家了</li> | ||
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== Sources and further reading == | == Sources and further reading == | ||
Revision as of 04:42, 24 October 2011
To express that something happened later than expected, you can use 才. The structure is:
Subject + Time + 才 + Verb + Object
In English this might be expressed with "as late as" or "not until". Some examples:
- 我们 十点 上课，可是 他 十点一刻 才 来。
- 昨天 晚上 我的 女儿 一点半 才 回家。
- 他 二十八 岁 才 拿到 驾驶执照。
Note that verbs following 才 cannot take 了，as the action does not have the sense of being completed. So, in the above situation, it is wrong to say:
- 昨天晚上我的女儿一点半才回家了
Sources and further reading
Websites
- East Asia Student: 就 and 才 in Mandarin: as early as, not until
