Before a specific time with "yiqian"
Revision as of 02:20, 11 October 2013 by Yangrenjun (talk | contribs)
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Level
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Similar to
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Used for
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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.
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
