Marker昨天
Example
昨天我去学校了。
Yesterday I went to school.Why it matters
zuótiān. A time expression can establish the past; Chinese verbs do not conjugate.
Mandarin Time and Aspect
Sort 12 Mandarin time and aspect clues before the timer runs out.
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Timer: 9s
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1
昨天Yesterday I went to school.
zuótiān — A time expression can establish the past; Chinese verbs do not conjugate.
12 Mandarin time and aspect clues
A compact guide from the lesson: time words, markers, context, and examples.
Marker今天
Example
今天我在家。
Today I am at home.Why it matters
jīntiān. 今天 refers to today, without specifying whether an action is ongoing.
Marker明天
Example
明天我去学校。
Tomorrow I am going to school.Why it matters
míngtiān. An explicit future time can make 会 or 要 unnecessary.
Marker现在
Example
现在我很忙。
I am busy now.Why it matters
xiànzài. 现在 provides present-time context.
Marker正在
Example
我正在吃饭。
I am eating.Why it matters
zhèngzài. 正在 comes before the verb to emphasize an action in progress.
Marker了
Example
我买了一本书。
I bought a book.Why it matters
le. Verb-final 了 marks completion; it is not a general past-tense ending.
Marker过
Example
我去过北京。
I have been to Beijing.Why it matters
guo. Verb-final 过 expresses having had an experience. It is unstressed here.
Marker着
Example
门开着。
The door is open.Why it matters
zhe. 着 after a verb can describe a continuing state. It is unstressed here.
Marker已经
Example
我已经吃饭了。
I have already eaten.Why it matters
yǐjīng. 已经 means already and often appears with 了.
Marker还没
Example
我还没吃饭。
I have not eaten yet.Why it matters
hái méi. Use 还没 for not yet; normally do not add completion 了.
Marker快要
Example
快要下雨了。
It is about to rain.Why it matters
kuàiyào. 快要 plus a verb often ends with 了 for an imminent change.
Marker会
Example
明天会下雨。
It will rain tomorrow.Why it matters
huì. 会 can mark a future prediction; in other contexts it can mean a learned ability.