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以前，… (in the past, …)
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How things used to be
- Your grandmother looks at old photos of her village with dirt roads and no cars.
- used to以前here这儿not have / haven't没有road路，now现在to have / there is有很多war chariot (archaic)车(completed / change)了。 — "There used to be no road here; now there are lots of cars."
used to以前，… = "in the past, …"
- used to以前 at the start of the sentence (or after the subject) = "before, in the past", often contrasted with now现在.
- It describes a past habit or state: I我used to以前live住in在Shanghai上海 — "I used to live in Shanghai."
I我used to以前live住in在Shanghai上海。
Complete: “I used to be very shy.” 我____很害羞。
Độ khó 1/5 · 100 xu + một phần thưởng nhỏ cho lần hoàn thành đầu tiên trong ngày
Subject + 以前 + description = used to be.
Then and now
- he他used to以前not不like喜欢eat吃spicy辣food的，now现在degree / adjective linker很like喜欢。 — "He didn't use to like spicy food; now he loves it."
- The contrast with now现在 is very common; often no (completed / change)了 is needed for a past habit.
he他used to以前not不like喜欢eat吃spicy辣food的。
Build: “He didn't use to like spicy food.”
Độ khó 3/5 · 200 xu + một phần thưởng nhỏ cho lần hoàn thành đầu tiên trong ngày
Subject + 以前 + verb phrase.
Which used to以前 is it?
- Alone at the front or after the subject, used to以前 = "in the past": used to以前I我improbable不会to prepare a meal做饭.
- After a time or action, it = "before": to go to class上课used to以前 — "before class". Check what comes before it.
Match each sentence to its meaning.
Độ khó 2/5 · 140 xu + một phần thưởng nhỏ cho lần hoàn thành đầu tiên trong ngày
Alone, 以前 means “in the past”; after an action it means “before”.
used to以前 versus (verb suffix)过去 and originally原来
- (verb suffix)过去 also means "in the past", a little more formal: (verb suffix)过去here这里was是一个小村子。
- originally原来 = "originally", stressing that it later changed: he他originally原来was是a teacher老师，afterwards后来at or in the very same...当(completed / change)了author作家。
he他originally原来was是a teacher老师。
原来 stresses that the situation later changed.
Độ khó 1/5 · 100 xu + một phần thưởng nhỏ cho lần hoàn thành đầu tiên trong ngày
原来 = originally (and then it changed).
Recap
- used to以前，… = in the past, used to …; often contrasted with now现在.
- X + used to以前 = before X. (verb suffix)过去 = in the past (formal); originally原来 = originally.
Read the full reference: HSK 3 grammar — Nouns.
Your grandmother looks at old photos of her village with dirt roads and no cars. 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.