What are common mistakes with 時間表達?

EN speakers: Putting time at the end (*我去今日). Time goes BEFORE the verb. Mandarin speakers: 聽日=明天, 琴日=昨天 — different words, same position rule.

時間表達: rules, examples & exercises | Cantonese Grammar A1

時間表達

A1 — 其他

Days, time words, and time expression patterns

I can talk about time, days, and schedule basic activities.

Days, time words, and time expression patterns

其他A1

Rule: Time words go BEFORE the verb: 我 今日 去。(I'm going today .)

Days, time words, clock time

Learning Goal

I can talk about time and schedule.

Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?

我聽日去飲茶。

I'm going to yum cha tomorrow.

而家幾點？

What time is it now?

我朝早八點返工。

I go to work at 8 in the morning.

Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?

Rule: Time words go BEFORE the verb: 我今日去。(I'm going today.)

Clock time: 而家幾點？(What time is it now?) → 而家三點半。(It's 3:30 now.)

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

Putting time after verb.

我聽日去飲茶。

I'm going to yum cha tomorrow.

聽日 (tomorrow) goes before the verb 去. Time-Subject-Verb-Object.

而家幾點？

What time is it now?

而家 (now) + 幾點 (what time). Standard time question.

我朝早八點返工。

I go to work at 8 in the morning.

朝早 (morning) + 八點 (8 o'clock) + 返工 (go to work). Time phrase before verb.

Practice in course

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

When is 時間表達 used?: Rule: Time words go BEFORE the verb: 我今日去。(I'm going today .)
How is 時間表達 formed?: Clock time: 而家幾點？(What time is it now?) → 而家三點半。(It's 3:30 now.)
What are common mistakes with 時間表達?: EN speakers: Putting time at the end (*我去今日). Time goes BEFORE the verb. Mandarin speakers: 聽日=明天, 琴日=昨天 — different words, same position rule.