Difference between revisions of "Before a specific time with "yiqian""
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| − | * <em>上 大学</em> <strong>以前</strong>，我 不 会 写 论文。 | + | * <em>上 大学</em> <strong>以前</strong>，我 不 会 写 论文。<span class="trans">Before I was in college, I couldn't write a dissertation.</span> |
| − | * <em>三点</em> <strong>以前</strong>，我 在 咖啡店。 | + | * <em>三点</em> <strong>以前</strong>，我 在 咖啡店。<span class="trans">Before three o'clock, I'm in the coffeeshop.</span> |
| − | * <em>睡觉</em> <strong>以前</strong>，你 不 能 吃 糖。 | + | * <em>睡觉</em> <strong>以前</strong>，你 不 能 吃 糖。<span class="trans">Before I go to sleep, I can't have eat sugar.</span> |
| − | * <em>结婚</em> <strong>以前</strong>，我 很 自由。 | + | * <em>结婚</em> <strong>以前</strong>，我 很 自由。<span class="trans">Before I was married, I was free.</span> |
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Revision as of 07:07, 3 June 2013
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Keywords
As well as talking about the past in general, you can use 以前 to talk about things that happened before a specific time. The structure for this is:
Structure
Time + 以前， Subject + Verb + Object
The time can be a specific time, or an action.
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.
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
