I can talk about my usual day in Chinese order — who, when, where, what they do: 我早上七点在家吃早饭 — and ask about the other person's day.
Who — when — where — what they do
Who — when — where — what they do
What for: talking about your usual day.
The order is fixed: who — when — where — what they do (— what). “我早上七点在家吃早饭。(Wǒ zǎoshang qī diǎn zài jiā chī zǎofàn.)” Time and place go BEFORE the verb — never at the end, as in English “I have breakfast at home at seven”. See the table.
The time can also go at the very beginning: 早上七点我在家吃早饭 (Zǎoshang qī diǎn wǒ zài jiā chī zǎofàn) — also correct. The place comes after the time, right before the verb: 在 + place = “at, in”. 不 goes before 在: “我不在家吃早饭” (Wǒ bú zài jiā chī zǎofàn) — “not at home”.
An exception you know: 住在. “我住在上海” (Wǒ zhù zài Shànghǎi) and “我在上海住” (Wǒ zài Shànghǎi zhù) are both correct.
The verb doesn't change, and there's no “will”: “我每天六点起床。我明天也六点起床。” (Wǒ měitiān liù diǎn qǐchuáng. Wǒ míngtiān yě liù diǎn qǐchuáng.) — today, every day, tomorrow: one form; the time word says when (每天, 明天).
How long: 小时 takes a measure word (两个小时), 分钟 doesn't (十分钟). 八点十分 is a time on the clock, 十分钟 is how long something lasts.
Common mistakes:
• ×我吃早饭七点 → 我七点吃早饭 (Wǒ qī diǎn chī zǎofàn)
• ×他上班在医院 → 他在医院上班 (Tā zài yīyuàn shàngbān)
• ×我起床每天六点 → 我每天六点起床 (Wǒ měitiān liù diǎn qǐchuáng)
• ×两个分钟 → 两分钟 (liǎng fēnzhōng).
Word order
You can move the time to the start: 早上七点我在家吃早饭 (Zǎoshang qī diǎn wǒ zài jiā chī zǎofàn).
| Who | When | Where | What they do |
|---|---|---|---|
| 我 (wǒ) | 早上七点 (zǎoshang qī diǎn) | 在家 (zài jiā) | 吃早饭 (chī zǎofàn) |
| 王志远 (Wáng Zhìyuǎn) | 上午九点 (shàngwǔ jiǔ diǎn) | 在公司 (zài gōngsī) | 上班 (shàngbān) |
| 美玲 (Měilíng) | 晚上 (wǎnshang) | 在饭店 (zài fàndiàn) | 吃饭 (chīfàn) |
A point in time or how long
| Word | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 点 (diǎn) | 两点 (liǎng diǎn) | a point in time, 2:00 |
| 分 (fēn) | 八点十分 (bā diǎn shí fēn) | a point in time, 8:10 |
| 小时 (xiǎoshí) | 两个小时 (liǎng gè xiǎoshí) | lasts two hours, with the measure word 个 |
| 分钟 (fēnzhōng) | 十分钟 (shí fēnzhōng) | lasts ten minutes, no 个 |
Lesson notes
Who — when — where — what they do
What for: talking about your usual day.
The order is fixed: who — when — where — what they do (— what). “我早上七点在家吃早饭。(Wǒ zǎoshang qī diǎn zài jiā chī zǎofàn.)” Time and place go BEFORE the verb — never at the end, as in English “I have breakfast at home at seven”. See the table.
The time can also go at the very beginning: 早上七点我在家吃早饭 (Zǎoshang qī diǎn wǒ zài jiā chī zǎofàn) — also correct. The place comes after the time, right before the verb: 在 + place = “at, in”. 不 goes before 在: “我不在家吃早饭” (Wǒ bú zài jiā chī zǎofàn) — “not at home”.
An exception you know: 住在. “我住在上海” (Wǒ zhù zài Shànghǎi) and “我在上海住” (Wǒ zài Shànghǎi zhù) are both correct.
The verb doesn't change, and there's no “will”: “我每天六点起床。我明天也六点起床。” (Wǒ měitiān liù diǎn qǐchuáng. Wǒ míngtiān yě liù diǎn qǐchuáng.) — today, every day, tomorrow: one form; the time word says when (每天, 明天).
How long: 小时 takes a measure word (两个小时), 分钟 doesn't (十分钟). 八点十分 is a time on the clock, 十分钟 is how long something lasts.
Common mistakes:
• ×我吃早饭七点 → 我七点吃早饭 (Wǒ qī diǎn chī zǎofàn)
• ×他上班在医院 → 他在医院上班 (Tā zài yīyuàn shàngbān)
• ×我起床每天六点 → 我每天六点起床 (Wǒ měitiān liù diǎn qǐchuáng)
• ×两个分钟 → 两分钟 (liǎng fēnzhōng).