Expressing Past / Present / Future

The particle le 了 commonly signals a completed action, and time adverbs like zuótiān 昨天 reinforce past reference. Use le 了 after the verb to indicate that an event has occurred.

The present can be shown with the bare verb for habitual actions or ongoing states, and the particle zài 在 can mark an action in progress when placed before the verb. Context and time expressions help listeners tell whether you're describing a current activity, a general habit, or a temporary situation.

Future time is often indicated by modal verbs like huì 会, time expressions such as míngtiān 明天, or by placing particles like yào 要 before the verb. The verb itself remains in its base form, and these cues signal that an action has not yet happened.

Particles such as le 了, zài 在, and guò 过 each serve time-related functions: le 了 marks completed actions, zài 在 highlights ongoing activities, and guò 过 indicates experiential actions. Revisiting these particles with examples helps solidify their distinct uses.

Time adverbs like zuótiān 昨天, jīntiān 今天, and míngtiān 明天 provide clear anchors for past, present, and future. Pairing signal words with particles gives listeners precise clues about when an action took place or will take place.

Mandarin expresses time mainly through particles, context, and time expressions rather than verb endings. Use le 了 for completed actions, zài 在 for ongoing actions, and modal verbs or time adverbs for the future, and rely on signal words to make your meaning clear.