Difference between revisions of "Time words and word order"
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In Chinese, time words can appear in one of two positions in the sentence: either at the beginning of the sentence (before the subject), or directly after the subject. The structures are: | In Chinese, time words can appear in one of two positions in the sentence: either at the beginning of the sentence (before the subject), or directly after the subject. The structures are: | ||
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So this is one of the rare occasions where if you start speaking with English word order (time first), you can carry on and get away with it. | So this is one of the rare occasions where if you start speaking with English word order (time first), you can carry on and get away with it. | ||
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Revision as of 03:37, 15 May 2012
Structure
In Chinese, time words can appear in one of two positions in the sentence: either at the beginning of the sentence (before the subject), or directly after the subject. The structures are:
Time + Subject + Verb + Object
Subject + Time + Verb + Object
So this is one of the rare occasions where if you start speaking with English word order (time first), you can carry on and get away with it.
Examples
- 昨天 我 去 了 酒吧。
- 我 昨天 去 了 酒吧。
- 下 个 星期 他 要 回国。
- 他 下 个 星期 要 回国。
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
- Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (pp. 75-7) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 205-6) →buy
