刚 vs 刚才 (just now: adverb vs time-word)
IntroducedPlace a recent-time expression correctly
- A friend left shortly before you arrived.
- he他just刚leave走。a moment ago刚才he他still / also还be at在here这儿。 — just刚 modifies the leaving; a moment ago刚才 names the earlier time when he was here.
A friend left shortly before you arrived. What does 他刚走。刚才他还在这儿。 communicate?
刚 modifies the leaving; 刚才 names the earlier time when he was here. 刚 can describe a short interval relative to a stated event, as in 刚到学校就下雨了. 刚才 can occur before or after the subject and in 刚才的电话; it is a time expression, not merely a longer 刚.
Build the form
- The pattern in this lesson is just刚 vs a moment ago刚才 (just now: adverb vs time-word). Locate it in the original interlinear examples below.
- Keep the words in their demonstrated positions; the pattern must fit the intended situation as well as the sentence form.
he他just刚leave走。
Using the lesson pattern in this demonstrated example: Put the adverb right before the verb: 他 ____ 走。(He just left.)
刚 is an adverb tight before the verb: 他刚走 (he just left).
Read examples in context
a moment ago刚才he他be at在here这儿。
- In the opening example, he他just刚leave走。a moment ago刚才he他still / also还be at在here这儿。: just刚 modifies the leaving; a moment ago刚才 names the earlier time when he was here.
- Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.
Which word can open a sentence like 昨天 (a time-word)?
刚才 is a time-noun, so 刚才他在这儿 works; 刚 is an adverb tied to the verb.
Build: “A moment ago he was here.”
刚才 is a time-word and opens the clause: 刚才 + 他 + 在这儿.
Know the boundary
- just刚 can describe a short interval relative to a stated event, as in just刚to / arrive到school学校then / just就to rain下雨(completed / change)了.
- a moment ago刚才 can occur before or after the subject and in a moment ago刚才(modifier / structural particle)的telephone电话; it is a time expression, not merely a longer just刚.
刚 and 刚才 are the same kind of word and always swap freely.
刚 is an adverb (before the verb); 刚才 is a time-word — they do not swap freely.
刚 and 刚才 are interchangeable in every grammatical position.
刚 can describe a short interval relative to a stated event, as in 刚到学校就下雨了. 刚才 can occur before or after the subject and in 刚才的电话; it is a time expression, not merely a longer 刚. 刚 modifies the leaving; 刚才 names the earlier time when he was here.
Use the distinction
- just刚 modifies the leaving; a moment ago刚才 names the earlier time when he was here.
- just刚 can describe a short interval relative to a stated event, as in just刚to / arrive到school学校then / just就to rain下雨(completed / change)了. a moment ago刚才 can occur before or after the subject and in a moment ago刚才(modifier / structural particle)的telephone电话; it is a time expression, not merely a longer just刚.
Read the full reference: HSK 3 grammar — Comparing adverbs.
A friend left shortly before you arrived. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.
This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.