刚才 (a moment ago)
IntroducedA friend asks you to repeat the earlier news
- You did not hear a friend's last sentence clearly.
- you你a moment ago刚才say说what什么？ — a moment ago刚才 asks about speech in the recent past.
You did not hear a friend's last sentence clearly. What does 你刚才说什么？ communicate?
刚才 asks about speech in the recent past. 刚才 is a time expression: 刚才他在这儿 and 他刚才在这儿 both work. It can describe a state or a negated action, as in 刚才没听见; 了 is not compulsory.
Build the form
- The pattern in this lesson is a moment ago刚才 (a moment ago). 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.
a moment ago刚才he他come来了。
Using the lesson pattern in this demonstrated example: He came a moment ago: ____ 他来了。
刚才 = a moment ago, a time-word: 刚才他来了.
Read examples in context
you你a moment ago刚才say说what什么？
- In the opening example, you你a moment ago刚才say说what什么？: a moment ago刚才 asks about speech in the recent past.
- Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.
刚才 behaves like which word?
刚才 is a time-word, so it sits where 昨天 / 今天 would.
Build: “What did you say just now?”
Subj + 刚才 + Verb: 你 + 刚才 + 说什么?
Know the boundary
- a moment ago刚才 is a time expression: a moment ago刚才he他at / in在here这儿 and he他a moment ago刚才at / in在here这儿 both work.
- It can describe a state or a negated action, as in a moment ago刚才not / haven't没to hear听见; (completed / change)了 is not compulsory.
刚才 points to the future.
刚才 points at the recent PAST, often with 了.
In the opening situation: 刚才 asks about speech in the recent past.
刚才 is a time expression: 刚才他在这儿 and 他刚才在这儿 both work. It can describe a state or a negated action, as in 刚才没听见; 了 is not compulsory. 刚才 asks about speech in the recent past.
Use the distinction
- a moment ago刚才 asks about speech in the recent past.
- a moment ago刚才 is a time expression: a moment ago刚才he他at / in在here这儿 and he他a moment ago刚才at / in在here这儿 both work. It can describe a state or a negated action, as in a moment ago刚才not / haven't没to hear听见; (completed / change)了 is not compulsory.
Read the full reference: HSK 3 grammar — Nouns.
You did not hear a friend's last sentence clearly. 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.