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

Line 26: Line 26:
 
* <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。
+
*<em>十点</em> <strong>以前</strong>,我 必须 到 机场。<span class="trans">Before 10 o'clock I must go the airport.</span>
*<em>开会</em> <strong>以前 </strong>,我 需要 准备 所有 的 材料。
+
*<em>开会</em> <strong>以前 </strong>,我 需要 准备 所有 的 材料。<span class="trans">Before the meeting, I wanted to practice all the material.</span>
*<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。<span class="trans">Three years ago I came to Shanghai.</span>
*<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。<span class="trans">Before eating, you should wash your hands.</span>
*<em>一 个 月</em> <strong>以前</strong>,我 认识 了 我 的 老婆。
+
*<em>一 个 月</em> <strong>以前</strong>,我 认识 了 我 的 老婆。<span class="trans">A month ago I met my wife.</span>
*<em>生 孩子</em> <strong>以前</strong>,你 应该 先 结婚。
+
*<em>生 孩子</em> <strong>以前</strong>,你 应该 先 结婚。<span class="trans">Before having kids, you should first get married.</span>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  

Revision as of 09:50, 1 November 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。Before 10 o'clock I must go the airport.
  • 开会 以前 ,我 需要 准备 所有 的 材料。Before the meeting, I wanted to practice all the material.
  • 三 年 以前,我 来到 了 上海。Three years ago I came to Shanghai.
  • 吃饭 以前,你 应该 洗 手。Before eating, you should wash your hands.
  • 一 个 月 以前,我 认识 了 我 的 老婆。A month ago I met my wife.
  • 生 孩子 以前,你 应该 先 结婚。Before having kids, you should first get married.

See also

Sources and further reading