Difference between revisions of "Before a specific time with "yiqian""

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* <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>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。<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。
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*<em>十点</em><strong>以前</strong>,我 必须 到 机场。
*<em>开会</em><strong>以前 </strong>,我需要准备所有的材料。
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*<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。
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*<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。
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*<em>吃饭</em><strong>以前</strong>,你 应该 洗 手。
*<em>一个月</em><strong>以前</strong>,我认识了我的老婆。
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*<em>一 个 月</em><strong>以前</strong>,我 认识 了 我 的 老婆。
*<em>生孩子</em><strong>以前</strong>,你应该先结婚。
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*<em>生 孩子</em><strong>以前</strong>,你 应该 先 结婚。
 
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Revision as of 02:37, 11 October 2013

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