shíjiān fùcí
Time adverbs (时间副词)
Time adverbs like 马上 (right away), 先 (first), 有时 (sometimes), 在/正/正在 (currently doing) tell you WHEN or in what ORDER something happens. They always come right before the verb they describe.
Anchor example
老师：你们先打开书，我马上来！学生：他正在打电话呢！
Lǎoshī: Nǐmen xiān dǎkāi shū, wǒ mǎshàng lái! Xuésheng: Tā zhèngzài dǎ diànhuà ne!
Teacher: Open your books first, I'll be right there! Student: He's on the phone right now!
HSK 1
HSK 1
1
1 structures
10
10 exercises
Lesson summary
Time adverbs like 马上 (right away), 先 (first), 有时 (sometimes), 在/正/正在 (currently doing) tell you WHEN or in what ORDER something happens. They always come right before the verb they describe.
Time adverbs (时间副词) modify verbs and adjectives to indicate timing, sequence, or an ongoing state. In Chinese, they always appear BEFORE the verb — never after.
Key time adverbs at HSK 1: • 马上 (mǎshàng) — right away, immediately. Used for things about to happen: 我马上来。 • 先 (xiān) — first, before other actions. Signals sequence: 你先坐，我去拿水。 • 有时 (yǒushí) — sometimes, occasionally. Describes irregular habits: 我有时去图书馆看书。 • 在/正/正在 (zài/zhèng/zhèngzài) — currently doing (progressive aspect). These three are nearly interchangeable. Adding 呢 at the end emphasizes the ongoing action: 他正在吃饭呢。
When to use which: — Use 马上 when something is about to start (near future) — Use 先 when there is a clear sequence of steps — Use 有时 when describing irregular or occasional habits — Use 正在/在/正 when something is happening RIGHT NOW
When NOT to use: — Do not place a time adverb AFTER the verb: 我来马上 → 我马上来 — Do not use 正在 for habitual or future actions: 我正在每天跑步 → 我每天跑步 — Do not confuse 先 (sequence) with 马上 (urgency/immediacy): 你先去 (you go first — sequence); 你马上去 (go right away — urgency)
Grammar pattern
Time adverb + predicate
Time adverbs like 马上, 先, 有时, 在/正/正在 come before the verb to indicate timing, order, or an ongoing action.
我马上来。
Wǒ mǎshàng lái.
I'll be right there.
你先坐，我去拿水。
Nǐ xiān zuò, wǒ qù ná shuǐ.
Sit down first — I'll go get some water.
妈妈正在做饭呢。
Māma zhèngzài zuò fàn ne.
Mom is cooking right now.
Fill in the blank:
