The position of time words in Chinese sentences (17)
Time words describe time "when", such as 现在 xiànzài now , 今天 jīntiān today and 三点 sān diăn three o’clock . A time word should be placed before adverbs, verbs and stative verbs in sentences.
我 今天 很 忙
I am very busy today.
The time word 今天 jīntiān today is placed before the adverbial intensifier 很 hĕn very and is followed by the stative verb 忙 máng busy .
他 今天 三 点 去我家
He is going to my house at three o’clock today.
The time words 今天三点 jīntiān sān diăn three o’clock today are placed before the verb 去 qù to go . You might have noticed that the word order for time words is a reversed version of English word order. This is because Chinese word order in descriptions starts from the background and extends to the foreground. When expressing time, one starts with the year, then moves to the month, then the date, then the time, and so on. For instance, today is 24 June 2006. The word order in Chinese is 2004, June 24: 2004 年 nián 6 月 yuè 24 日 rì . Last May in Chinese will be 去年五月 qùnián wŭyuè (lit. last year’s May).
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Translate the following sentences into Chinese (17, time when)
I am going to see a film this evening.
We have Chinese grammar lessons at 10 on Monday mornings
I'm going to the library after the class. Would you like to go?
No, I'm going to have coffee at the canteen this afternoon.
When do you have your supper?
at 6 in the evening.
Should we have a Chinese meal this evening?