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HSK 2.0 Level 4+ HSK 3.0 Level 4+ 6 min read

Time Adverbs 按时 and 从来

Say that something happens on schedule with 按时, and that you never do or have never done something with 从来不 and 从来没…过.

Pattern

按时 + verb; 从来 + 不 + verb; 从来 + 没(有) + verb + 过

从来 almost always brings a negative: 从来不 for habits, 从来没…过 for experiences.

我从来没去过上海。

When to use Time Adverbs 按时 and 从来

Both go before the verb. 按时 means “on time, as scheduled”: you do something at the time that was set (按时吃药, 按时交作业). 从来 means “ever, all along” and is almost always negative: 从来不 + verb says you never do something as a habit, and 从来没(有) + verb + 过 says something has never happened.

你要按时吃药。

You need to take your medicine on time.

他每天都按时交作业。

He hands in his homework on time every day.

我从来不喝咖啡。

I never drink coffee.

图书馆的书要按时还。

Library books must be returned on time.

Common traps

  • For experiences use 从来没…过: 我从来没去过北京, not 我从来不去过北京.
  • Don’t use bare 从来 in a positive sentence: 我从来没迟到过 or 他从来都很认真, not 我从来迟到.
  • Negate 按时 for one past event with 没: 他昨天没按时到, not 他昨天不按时到.

Targeted drill

Practice this exact pattern before moving on.

会议九点开始，他九点 到了

The meeting began at nine; he arrived on time at nine
Fill in the missing piece, then press Enter

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