Difference between revisions of "Time words and word order"

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[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
 
{{Used for|Expressing Time and Date}}
 
{{Used for|Expressing Time and Date}}
{{Basic Grammar|none|A2|Subj. + Time… / Time + Subj….|我 <em>明天</em> 有 空。/ <em>明天</em> 我 有 空。|grammar point|ASG5RWKO}
+
{{Basic Grammar|none|A2|Subj. + Time… / Time + Subj….|我 <em>明天</em> 有 空。/ <em>明天</em> 我 有 空。|grammar point|ASG5RWKO}}
 
{{Similar|Word order}}
 
{{Similar|Word order}}
 
{{Similar|Using "zai" with verbs}}
 
{{Similar|Using "zai" with verbs}}

Revision as of 08:48, 15 June 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。
  • 昨天 去 了 酒吧。
  • 下 个 星期 他 要 回国。
  • 下 个 星期 要 回国。

See also

Sources and further reading

Books