Answer to the Exercise on the Word Order of Time Words in Chinese Sentences

Answer: A
In the Chinese language, time words like “昨天 (zuótiān), yesterday” “今天 (jīntiān), today” “这星期 (zhèi xīngqī), this week” “现在 (xiànzài),” now etc., are not usually positioned at the end of a sentence as commonly occurs in English. They are used in two places in sentences, either at the beginning of the sentence directly before the subject, or directly after the subject.
First, let’s see how time words are used before the subject at the beginning of sentences.

Examples

Jīntiān wǒ tài máng le!
今天    我  太 忙      了!

I am so busy today!
Míngnián wǒ xiǎng mǎi yíliàng xīn chē.
明    年    我  想      买   一辆    新  车。

I want to buy a new car next year.
Next, we look at when time words are placed directly after the subject.

Examples

Gàosù dàjiā yígè hǎo xiāoxi! Wǒ xià gè yuè jiéhūn!
告诉    大家  一个 好   消息! 我  下  个  月  结婚!

I have good news to tell you! I’m going to get married next month!
Tom, nǐ xiànzài kěyǐ bāng wǒ ma?
Tom, 你 现在   可以 帮     我  吗?

Tom, can you help me now?
In our test above, since “昨天(zuótiān) yesterday” is a time word and in Chinese sentences time words should be put either before or after the subject, the answer is A.
<<Back to “Learn the Word Order of Time Words in the Chinese Language”


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