Time Adverbs 才, 刚, and 一直
Learn Time Adverbs 才, 刚, and 一直 with practical HSK 3 examples, focus vocabulary, common pitfalls, and targeted cloze practice.
Pattern
time adverb + verb
Use this HSK 3 pattern to make sentence structure, scope, or emphasis explicit instead of relying on word-for-word English order.
他刚到学校。
When to use Time Adverbs 才, 刚, and 一直
Read time adverb + verb as a sentence tool, not just as vocabulary. First locate the main action or claim, then ask what 刚 adds to it.
我刚吃完饭。
I just finished eating.
她刚离开办公室。
She just left the office.
Common traps
- Do not translate time adverb + verb mechanically from English; check the Chinese word order first.
- Keep 刚 close to the part of the sentence it controls.
- Do not overuse the pattern in every sentence; use it when it adds a clear role.
Targeted drill
Practice this exact pattern before moving on.
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