几点？ 1Key Structures

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1. 在 now/right now (not the preposition “at” here)

Sentence structure: Person + 在 + 做 + 什么？ What are …doing now?

Example Q: 你 在 做 什么？

Note 1. When answering, the word “to do” “ 做” is omitted if there is already a verb.

Activity 1. Write 5 questions and answers using Structure 1

Example A1: 我 在 做功课。Example A2: 我 在 吃饭。

Stage 4 Chinese_Time and Dates @narralakes

几点？ 2Key Structures

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1. 几点？ What time is it?

Sentence structure: 现在几点？ What time is it now?

Note 1. As in most Chinese questions, the answer replaces the question word, here the

questions word is “ 几” .

Activity 2. Write 5 questions and answers using the structure above.

Stage 4 Chinese_Time and Dates @narralakes

几点？ 3Key Structures

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1. 几点 + action What time do you…

Sentence structure: Person + time of day + 几点 + action? What time do you action”?

Note. When telling the time, the largest “time” word goes first. For example, here “morning” ( 早上 ) is placed before “ 六点” 。

Activity 3. Write 5 questions and answers using the structure above.

Example Q ： 你 早上 几点 起床？

Example A ： 我 早上 六点 起床。

Stage 4 Chinese_Time and Dates @narralakes

几月几日？ 1Key Structures

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1. 。。。是不是。。。？ Is it ………?

Example: 今天是不是九月三号？

Note 1. This question structure is also the same as “ 。。。是。。。 吗？” Eg. 今天是九月三号吗？

Activity 1. Write 5 questions and answers using Structure 1

Stage 4 Chinese_Time and Dates @narralakes

几月几日？ 2Key Structures

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2. 。。。。，可以吗？ Can/Is it ok to…?

Example 1: 我下午去看电影，可以吗？Note 1. For this structure, “ 可以” can be placed in front of the verb.

Eg. 我下午可以去看电影吗？”

Activity 2. Write 5 questions and answers using Structure 2.

Sentence Structure: Action + , 可以吗 ?

Note 2. When giving the “affirmative”, ie “yes”, you must use “ 可以”， NOT

“ 是”。

In Chinese, this is always the case, use the “verb” that is in the question in your

response. Naturally, to make a “negative” response, just add “ 不”， eg. “ 不可以” . Stage 4 Chinese_Time and Dates @narralakes

几月几日？ 3 － 4Key Structures

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2. 。。。是什么时候？ When is …..?

Example : 你的生日是什么时候？

Note 1. For this structure, because of “ 的” noting the subject (birthday) “ 是” is used.

In most cases,“ 什么时候” , is used as in Structure 3 below.

Activity 3. Write 5 questions and answers using Structure 3.

Stage 4 Chinese_Time and Dates @narralakes

几月几日？ 3 － 4Key Structures

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Activity 4. Write 5 questions and answers using Structure 4.

3. 。。。什么时候。。。？ When is (person)….?

Sentence Structure: Person + 什么时候 + action?

Example : 你 什么时候 去中国？

Note 1. When answering, as noted earlier, the answer replaces the question

word/phrase. Eg. “ 我明年三月去中国。”

Stage 4 Chinese_Time and Dates @narralakes