Time frame

Time frame

In Chinese a verb does not inflect or change its form to indicate tense: therefore a time word/or a time expression, or a time reference or context for the action of the verb must be clearly provided when referring to past, present or future events and actions. Modal verbs such as 想，会，打 算，计划，希望 or 要 + verb, etc can indicate the future. Aspectual particles/(aspect marks) can also be accepted for actions with different time references, eg verb + 过 or 了 can indicate past experience.

Present tense: to talk about things you do in general

· subject + (frequency words +) verb + activity

我常常打篮球。 (I often play basketball.)

Past tense: to talk about memorable activities, recent trips etc.

· subject + past time + verb + 了 + object

我昨天打了篮球。(I played basketball yesterday.)

Future tense: to talk about plans, ambitions, etc.

· subject + future time + (想/要/打算/计划) + verb + activity

我明天要打篮球。 (I will play basketball tomorrow.)

Days

Days of the week

Months

Seasons

Time-related Structures

when ... ... 的时候

做作业的时候不要看电视。

Zuò zuo yè de shíhòu bùyào kàn diànshì.

Don’t watch TV when you are doing your homework.

After ... ... 以后

放学以后，我们踢足球。

Fàngxué yǐhòu, wǒmen tī zúqiú.

After finishing school, we played football.

First, then, and finally ...

先，然后，最后 ...

Similar to 先...再 zài ..., 先...然后... means ‘first (I do one action)..., and then (I do something else)...’.

Both parts of the structure are followed directly by a verb. The structure is used to indicate the sequence of a series of action.

我先做作业，然后看电视。

Wǒ xiān zuò zuo yè, ránhòu kàn diànshì.

First I do homework, and then I watch TV.