<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unlike in English, the form of a Chinese verb never changes, regardless of whether it is present, past, or future tense. For example, whereas in English the verb ‘eat’ will become \u2018ate\u2019 for past tense, the Chinese verb \u5403 (ch\u012b) stays the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s great news right?! You don\u2019t have to spend time learning those dreaded past participles or future perfect continuous tense!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So how does someone know that you are referring to something that happened in the past? Or that you are talking about something that still hasn\u2019t happened?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are still some rules that need to be followed when constructing sentences that indicate past and future actions in Chinese. But trust me, they\u2019re not as complicated as you might think.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chinese verbs will not change state, instead, we add a time adverb or an aspect particle<\/a> to the sentence to indicate past, present, or future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are some basic principles you should follow in order to indicate a past, present, or future event in mandarin Chinese.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Usually, in order to indicate the completion of an action, the particle \u4e86 (le) is added after the verb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6211\u627e\u5230\u4e86\u90a3\u672c\u4e66<\/a>\u3002(w\u01d2 zh\u01ceo d\u00e0o le n\u00e0 b\u011bn sh\u016b) I found that book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6211\u5403\u8fc7\u65e9\u996d\u4e86<\/a>\u3002(w\u01d2 ch\u012b gu\u00f2 z\u01ceo f\u00e0n le) I have had breakfast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you wish to indicate that something did not happen in the past, you must negate the verb using \u6ca1<\/a> (m\u00e9i) or \u6ca1\u6709<\/a> (m\u00e9i y\u01d2u). The \u4e86<\/a> (le) particle is also removed from this kind of sentence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6211\u6628\u5929\u6ca1\u770b\u89c1\u5979<\/a>\u3002(w\u01d2 zu\u00f3 ti\u0101n m\u00e9i k\u00e0n ji\u00e0n t\u0101) I didn\u2019t see her yesterday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The adverb \u8fd8<\/a> (h\u00e1i) can also be used here to suggest that something \u2018has not yet happened\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6211\u8fd8\u6ca1\u5403\u996d<\/a>\u3002(w\u01d2 h\u00e1i m\u00e9i ch\u012b f\u00e0n.) I haven\u2019t eaten yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u7ecf\u5e38<\/a> (j\u012bng ch\u00e1ng) often<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6709\u65f6<\/a> (y\u01d2u sh\u00ed) sometimes<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6bcf\u5929<\/a> (m\u011bi ti\u0101n) everyday<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6bcf\u5468<\/a> (m\u011bi zh\u014du) every week<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6bcf\u5e74<\/a> (m\u011bi ni\u00e1n) every year<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6bcf\u5468\u4e00\u6b21<\/a> (m\u011bi zh\u014du y\u012b c\u00ec) once per week<\/p>\n\n\n\n (\u5728)\u5468\u4e00<\/a> (z\u00e0i zh\u014du y\u012b) on Monday<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes, the time adverb can be omitted, but they are often used to indicate that something is occurring presently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6211\u559c\u6b22\u4f60<\/a>\u3002(w\u01d2 x\u01d0 huan n\u01d0.) I like you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6211\u4e0d\u7231\u4f60<\/a>\u3002(w\u01d2 b\u00f9 \u00e0i n\u01d0) I don\u2018t love you<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6211(\u6bcf\u5929)\u9a91\u8f66\u4e0a\u5b66<\/a>\u3002(w\u01d2 m\u011bi ti\u0101n q\u00ed ch\u0113 sh\u00e0ng xu\u00e9) I ride a bike to school every day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6211\u6ca1\u6709\u5929\u5929\u53bb\u9152\u5427<\/a>\u3002(w\u01d2 m\u00e9i y\u01d2u ti\u0101n ti\u0101n q\u00f9 ji\u01d4 b\u0101) I don\u2019t go to the bar everyday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6b63 (zh\u00e8ng), \u5728 (z\u00e0i) and \u6b63\u5728 (zh\u00e8ng z\u00e0i) all indicate that something is still happening at the present time. They are only used when there is an action involved, and cannot be used with modal or stative verbs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6211\u5728\u6d17\u7897<\/a>\u3002(w\u01d2 z\u00e0i x\u01d0 w\u01cen.) I am washing the dishes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4ed6\u6b63\u5728\u6e38\u6cf3<\/a>\u3002(t\u0101 zh\u00e8ng z\u00e0i y\u00f3u y\u01d2ng) He is swimming now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4ee5\u524d<\/a> (y\u01d0 qi\u00e1n) – before\/ previously<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u8fc7\u53bb<\/a> (gu\u00f2 qu) – in the past \/ previously<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4e0a\u5468<\/a> (sh\u00e0ng zh\u014du) last week<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u53bb\u5e74<\/a> (q\u00f9 ni\u00e1n) last year<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6628\u5929<\/a> (zu\u00f3 ti\u0101n) yesterday<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u521a\u521a<\/a> (g\u0101ng gang) just now\/ a moment ago<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u5f80\u5e74\u8fd9\u4e2a\u65f6\u5019<\/a> (w\u01ceng ni\u00e1n zh\u00e8 ge sh\u00ed hou) at the time over the last few years<\/p>\n\n\n\n The clearest way to indicate that an action occurred in the past, is to use a time phrase or adverb (listed above). The time phrase tends to go before the verb to emphasize that specific time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4ee5\u524d<\/a>\u6211\u662f\u4e00\u4e2a<\/a>\u8001\u5e08<\/a>\u3002(y\u01d0 qi\u00e1n w\u01d2 sh\u00ec y\u012b g\u00e8 l\u01ceo sh\u012b.) I was a teacher before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n An action verb describes a doing thing, such as \u2018 to look\u2019 \u770b<\/a> (k\u00e0n) and \u2018to eat\u2019 \u5403<\/a> (ch\u012b).<\/p>\n\n\n\n To indicate that an action verb is completed or past, add the particle, \u4e86<\/a> (le) after the verb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u5979\u4e0a\u4e86\u4e00\u8282\u8bfe<\/a>\u3002 (t\u0101 sh\u00e0ng le y\u012b ji\u00e9 k\u00e8) She had a class.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6211\u770b\u7535\u5f71\u4e86<\/a>\u3002 (w\u01d2 k\u00e0n di\u00e0n y\u01d0ng le) I watched a movie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To suggest an action was experienced in the past, use the particle, \u8fc7<\/a> (gu\u00f2). It is most commonly used to talk about something that does not happen often or for action that happened some time ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6211\u95ee\u8fc7\u6211\u7684\u670b\u53cb<\/a>\u3002(w\u01d2 w\u00e8n gu\u00f2 w\u01d2 de p\u00e9ng you.) I asked my friend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the particle \u4e86<\/a> (le) is used in the same sentence as \u8fc7<\/a> (gu\u00f2), this emphasizes the action that occurred in the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6211\u7528\u8fc7\u90a3\u4e2a\u4e86<\/a>\u3002(w\u01d2 y\u00f2ng gu\u00f2 n\u00e8i g\u00e8 le) I used that before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To say that an action has never happened before, negate the verb using \u6ca1<\/a> (m\u00e9i) or \u6ca1\u6709<\/a> (m\u00e9i y\u01d2u).<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6ca1<\/a> (m\u00e9i) + verb + \u8fc7<\/a> (gu\u00f2)<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6211\u6ca1\u505a\u8fc7\u745c\u4f3d<\/a>\u3002(w\u01d2 m\u00e9i zu\u00f2 gu\u00f2 y\u00fa ji\u0101) = I have never done yoga before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you wish to say that an event has never happened before, then use the adverb \u4ece\u6765<\/a> (c\u00f3ng l\u00e1i), meaning \u2018in the past\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6211\u4ece\u6765\u6ca1\u53bb\u8fc7\u5317\u4eac<\/a>\u3002(w\u01d2 c\u00f3ng l\u00e1i m\u00e9i q\u00f9 gu\u00f2 b\u011bi j\u012bng) I have never been to Beijing before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Mandarin does not have a future tense, so something that has yet to occur is expressed by using time phrases that indicate the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u660e\u5929<\/a> (m\u00edng ti\u0101n) tomorrow<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4eca\u5929\u665a\u4e0a<\/a> (j\u012bn ti\u0101n w\u01cen shang) this evening<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u540e\u5929<\/a> (h\u00f2u ti\u0101n) the next day tomorrow<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4e0b\u4e2a\u661f\u671f<\/a> (xi\u00e0 g\u00e8 x\u012bng q\u012b) next week<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4e0b\u4e2a\u6708<\/a> (xi\u00e0 g\u00e8 yu\u00e8) next month<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u660e\u5e74<\/a> (m\u00edng ni\u00e1n) next year<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u5c06\u6765<\/a> (ji\u0101ng l\u00e1i) in the future<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4e0b\u6b21<\/a> (xi\u00e0 c\u00ec) next time<\/p>\n\n\n\n A time phrase usually comes after the subject to emphasize that particular time expression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4eca\u5929\u665a\u4e0a\u6211\u4f1a\u53bb\u5317\u4eac<\/a>\u3002(j\u012bn ti\u0101n w\u01cen shang w\u01d2 hu\u00ec q\u00f9 b\u011bi j\u012bng.) I will go to Beijing this evening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4e0b\u6b21\u8bf7\u544a\u8bc9\u6211\u4f60\u7684\u7535\u8bdd\u53f7\u7801<\/a>\u3002(xi\u00e0 c\u00ec q\u01d0ng g\u00e0o su w\u01d2 n\u01d0 de di\u00e0n hu\u00e0 h\u00e0o m\u01ce.) Next time tell me your phone number.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Adverbs that refer to the future go before the verb phrase in the sentence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u5c31\u8981<\/a> (ji\u00f9 y\u00e0o)<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6211\u5c31\u8981\u8d70\u4e86<\/a>\u3002(w\u01d2 ji\u00f9 y\u00e0o z\u01d2u le) I am going to leave now<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u53ef\u80fd<\/a> (k\u011b n\u00e9ng)<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6211\u660e\u5929\u53ef\u80fd\u53bb\u4e0d\u4e86\u4e86<\/a>\u3002(w\u01d2 m\u00edng ti\u0101n k\u011b n\u00e9ng q\u00f9 b\u00f9 li\u01ceo le) I may not go there tomorrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4f1a<\/a> (hu\u00ec) can sometimes be used to indicate there is a high possibility that something will happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4ed6\u4e09\u70b9\u949f\u4f1a\u5230\u4e86<\/a>\u3002 (t\u0101 s\u0101n di\u01cen zh\u014dng hu\u00ec d\u00e0o le.) He will probably arrive at 3pm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u51c6\u5907<\/a> (zh\u01d4n b\u00e8i) get ready\/ prepare<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u8981<\/a> (y\u00e0o) to want<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6253\u7b97<\/a> (d\u01ce su\u00e0n) to plan<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6211\u6253\u7b97\u53bb\u5b66\u6e38\u6cf3<\/a>\u3002(w\u01d2 d\u01ce su\u00e0n q\u00f9 xu\u00e9 y\u00f3u y\u01d2ng.) I am planning to learn how to swim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6211\u51c6\u5907\u51fa\u56fd<\/a>\u3002(w\u01d2 zh\u01d4n b\u00e8i ch\u016b gu\u00f3.) I am preparing to go abroad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Both \u4e0d<\/a> (b\u00f9) and \u6ca1 (\u6709)<\/a> (m\u00e9i y\u01d2u) are always put before the verb or adjective to express negation. Here are the differences between the two:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6ca1 (\u6709)<\/a> (m\u00e9i y\u01d2u) is used when expressing objectivity and therefore can only be used for the past and present time. \u4e0d<\/a> (b\u00f9) is used to express a subjective wish or expectation and can be used for past, present, and future time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4eca\u5929\u4ed6\u6ca1\u6765<\/a>\u3002(j\u012bn ti\u0101n t\u0101 m\u00e9i l\u00e1i.) He has not come today. (objective)<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4f60\u4e0d\u53eb\u4ed6\u4ed6\u80af\u5b9a\u4e0d\u6765<\/a>\u3002(n\u01d0 b\u00f9 ji\u00e0o t\u0101 t\u0101 k\u011bn d\u00ecng b\u00f9 l\u00e1i.) If you do not call him, he will not come. (subjective)<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u4e0d<\/a> (b\u00f9) can also be used before modal verbs such as \u4e0d\u613f\u610f<\/a> (b\u00f9 yu\u00e0n y\u00ec) – not willing, \u4e0d\u5e94\u8be5<\/a> (b\u00f9 y\u012bng g\u0101i) – should not, \u4e0d\u4f1a<\/a> (b\u00f9 hu\u00ec) – can’t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6ca1\u6709<\/a> (m\u00e9i y\u01d2u) can be used before nouns to act as verbs, the affirmative form is \u6709<\/a> (y\u01d2u).<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u6559\u5ba4\u91cc\u6ca1\u6709\u4eba\u3002 \u2014\u2014 \u6559\u5ba4\u91cc\u6709\u4eba<\/a>\u3002<\/p>\n\n\n\n (ji\u00e0o sh\u00ec l\u01d0 m\u00e9i y\u01d2u r\u00e9n — ji\u00e0o sh\u00ec l\u01d0 y\u01d2u r\u00e9n)<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is no one in the classroom \u2014\u2014 There is someone in the classroom<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writtenchinese.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/MANDARIN-HQ-VIDEO-COURSE-BLOG-CTA.png?resize=780%2C300\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nCompleted Actions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Completed Actions That Did Not Happen<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Present<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Commonly used Time Adverbs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ongoing Actions in the Present<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Past<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Commonly Used Past Time Phrases<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Action Verbs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Future<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Commonly Used Future Time Phrases<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Adverbs and the Future<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u4f1a (hu\u00ec) and the Future<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Future Verbs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Negation with \u4e0d and \u6ca1 (\u6709)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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