Difference between revisions of "Before a specific time with "yiqian""
Yangrenjun (talk | contribs) |
Yangrenjun (talk | contribs) |
||
| Line 27: | Line 27: | ||
* <em>结婚</em> <strong>以前</strong>，我 很 自由。<span class="trans">Before I was married, I was free.</span> | * <em>结婚</em> <strong>以前</strong>，我 很 自由。<span class="trans">Before I was married, I was free.</span> | ||
*<em>十点</em><strong>以前</strong>，我必须到机场。 | *<em>十点</em><strong>以前</strong>，我必须到机场。 | ||
| − | *<em>开会</em><strong>以前 </strong> | + | *<em>开会</em><strong>以前 </strong>，我需要准备所有的材料。 |
*<em>三年</em><strong>以前</strong>，我来到了上海。 | *<em>三年</em><strong>以前</strong>，我来到了上海。 | ||
*<em>吃饭</em><strong>以前</strong>，你应该洗手。 | *<em>吃饭</em><strong>以前</strong>，你应该洗手。 | ||
Revision as of 02:27, 11 October 2013
-
Level
-
Similar to
-
Used for
-
Keywords
As well as talking about the past in general, you can use 以前 (yǐqián) to talk about things that happened before a specific time.
Structure
Time+ 以前， Subject + Verb + Object
Verb+ 以前， Subject + Verb + Object
The time can be a specific time, or an action (technically, "when the action was done").
Examples
- 上 大学 以前，我 不 会 写 论文。Before I was in college, I couldn't write a dissertation.
- 三点 以前，我 在 咖啡店。Before three o'clock, I'm in the coffeeshop.
- 睡觉 以前，你 不 能 吃 糖。Before I go to sleep, I can't have eat sugar.
- 结婚 以前，我 很 自由。Before I was married, I was free.
- 十点以前，我必须到机场。
- 开会以前 ，我需要准备所有的材料。
- 三年以前，我来到了上海。
- 吃饭以前，你应该洗手。
- 一个月以前，我认识了我的老婆。
- 生孩子以前，你应该先结婚。
See also
Sources and further reading
- Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 260-1) →buy
- Boya Chinese Elementary Starter 2 (博雅汉语初经起步篇) (pp. 11-12) →buy
