刚 + Verb (just did)
IntroducedRecent is relative to a reference point
- A friend asks when you arrived; it was only a moment ago.
- I我just刚arrive到。 — just刚 places arrival shortly before the relevant reference time.
A friend asks when you arrived; it was only a moment ago. What does 我刚到。 communicate?
刚 places arrival shortly before the relevant reference time. The interval depends on context. 了 is not compulsory, but 刚买了一本书 is natural; avoid a blanket ban on 了.
Build the form
- The pattern in this lesson is just刚 + Verb (just did). 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.
I我just刚arrive到。
Using the lesson pattern in this demonstrated example: I just arrived: 我 ____ 到。
刚 + Verb = just (did): 我刚到 (I just arrived).
Read examples in context
- In the opening example, I我just刚arrive到。: just刚 places arrival shortly before the relevant reference time.
- Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.
How does 刚 differ from 刚才?
刚 modifies a predicate as an adverb; 刚才 names a recent time and can occur before the subject. 刚-modified verbs can take 了, as in 刚买了一本书.
Know the boundary
- The interval depends on context.
- (completed / change)了 is not compulsory, but just刚to buy买(completed / change)了one / a一本书 is natural; avoid a blanket ban on (completed / change)了.
我刚买了一本书 is impossible because 刚 forbids 了 everywhere.
This sentence is natural. 我刚到 needs no 了, but that is not a universal ban.
Any sentence containing 刚 must omit 了.
The interval depends on context. 了 is not compulsory, but 刚买了一本书 is natural; avoid a blanket ban on 了. 刚 places arrival shortly before the relevant reference time.
Use the distinction
- just刚 places arrival shortly before the relevant reference time.
- The interval depends on context. (completed / change)了 is not compulsory, but just刚to buy买(completed / change)了one / a一本书 is natural; avoid a blanket ban on (completed / change)了.
Read the full reference: HSK 4 grammar — Adverbs.
A friend asks when you arrived; it was only a moment ago. 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.