HSK 2Lesson 4 of 13 · 5 grammar points
Time, habit and expectations
Distinguish already, still, about to, often and do-not. These words can describe timing or convey the speaker's expectations. A negative command changes the listener's behavior; a negative statement merely describes a situation.
Learning goals (5)
- Time and phase adverbs.
- Habitual frequency.
- Prohibitions with 别.
- Then and subsequent action.
- Speaker stance: 都、就、还是.
快要
Time and phase adverbs
已经 marks already; 还 can mean still; 正 marks ongoing action. 快 or 快要 with final 了 signals an approaching event. 有时候 means sometimes.
电影快要开始了。
The film is about to begin.
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还在学习 still studying; 已经到了 already arrived; 有时候去 sometimes go; 快下雨了 it will rain soon; 快要开始了 about to start; 正忙着 busy right now. 快 must be distinguished from fast in 跑得快.
Pitfall: 快跑 may mean run fast; 快要开始了 describes imminence.
常、经常
Habitual frequency
常 and 经常 describe recurrent events and usually precede the verb. They do not require plural objects or verb endings.
我经常在这里吃饭。
I often eat here.
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Pitfall: Frequency is different from an event happening right now.
别
Prohibitions with 别
别 before a verb tells someone not to do something. It can be softened by politeness or an explanation.
别在这里跑。
Don't run here.
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Pitfall: 别 is usually a directive; 没 describes non-occurrence.
再、就
Then and subsequent action
再 can put an action after another; 就 can express an immediate consequence or following step.
吃完饭再走。
Leave after finishing the meal.
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Pitfall: Do not confuse this sequencing 再 with a completed repetition.
都、就、还是
Speaker stance: 都、就、还是
都 can signal surprisingly late timing; 就 can signal emphasis or restriction; 还是 can introduce advice. Interpret the surrounding clause.
都八点了！
It's already eight o'clock!
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都十点了: already ten, later than expected. 就他一个人: only him. 你还是休息吧: you had better rest. These illustrate contextual stance; source labels such as 就1/就2 are not silently redefined here.
Pitfall: This 都 does not mean all people or things.
Source details (official syllabus)
Time and phase adverbs
- Syllabus item
- 还2、已经、有时（候）、快、快要、正
- Category
- 时间副词
- Grammar ID
- grammar-L2-016
- PDF page
- 389 (printed 386)
Habitual frequency
- Syllabus item
- 常、经常
- Category
- 频率副词
- Grammar ID
- grammar-L2-017
- PDF page
- 389 (printed 386)
Prohibitions with 别
- Syllabus item
- 别
- Category
- 否定副词
- Grammar ID
- grammar-L2-018
- PDF page
- 389 (printed 386)
Then and subsequent action
- Syllabus item
- 再2、就1
- Category
- 关联副词
- Grammar ID
- grammar-L2-019
- PDF page
- 389 (printed 386)
Speaker stance: 都、就、还是
- Syllabus item
- 都2、就2、还是1
- Category
- 语气副词
- Grammar ID
- grammar-L2-020
- PDF page
- 389 (printed 386)
- 1FILL BLANK
电影开始了。
Choose the expression that completes the sentence.
“The film is about to begin.”
- 2FILL BLANK
八点了！
Choose the expression that completes the sentence.
“It's already eight o'clock!”
- 3MATCH
Tap a sentence, then tap its meaning.
Tap a sentence, then tap its meaning.
- 4CHOOSE
Which is a command not to talk?
- 5CHOOSE
他说九点来，九点就到了。
In this sentence, what does 就 most naturally emphasize?
- 6ORDER
Tap the chunks to build the sentence.
“The film is about to begin.”
Tap the chunks in order. - 7ORDER
Tap the chunks to build the sentence.
“I often eat here.”
Tap the chunks in order.
0 of 7 tasks answered.
Next lesson: Sources, routes, recipients and connectors →快要Time and phase adverbs
- 我还没读到一半呢。 The Borrowed Book · HSK 3
- 课还没有开始，我们就到了教室。 A New Classmate Looks for the Classroom · HSK 2
- 他正在打篮球，看见我就问：“我们还差一个人，你来不来？” Still One Person Short · HSK 3
常、经常Habitual frequency
- 后来，我也经常帮助其他同事。 Borrowing a Stapler at the Office · HSK 3
别Prohibitions with 别
- 这时候，邻居阿姨从楼上下来，对我说：“别给太多，猫吃太多会生病。” Feeding Two Stray Cats Downstairs · HSK 3
- 爸爸说还没做好，先别坐。 The Park After Snow · HSK 3
再、就Then and subsequent action
- 回到家，我洗澡了，喝了一点儿水，然后就睡觉了。 Skipping a Swim Today · HSK 3
- “最后那个人……”她刚说到这里，我就叫她别说了。 The Borrowed Book · HSK 3
- 老师笑着说：“做得好。小树有水，就能长得好。” Watering the Small Trees at School · HSK 2
都、就、还是Speaker stance: 都、就、还是
- “怎么还是这里？” The Borrowed Book · HSK 3