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Time Expressions & Tense Markers

Time words
等雨停了再出门。
Wait until the rain stops
then go out.
Děng yǔ tíng le zài chūmén.
在一个星期之内
within one week
zài yī gè xīngqī zhī nèi
Within a time frame: 在…之内
在星期五之前交。
Submit before Friday.
Zài xīngqīwǔ zhīqián jiāo.
By a deadline: 在…之前
自从那次以来，他变了。
Since that time
he changed.
Zìcóng nà cì yǐlái
我以前喜欢踢足球。
I used to like playing football.
Wǒ yǐqián xǐhuan tī zúqiú.
Habitual past with 以前
他同时做两件事。
He does two things simultaneously.
Tā tóngshí zuò liǎng jiàn shì.
Simultaneous: 同时 (tóngshí)
她来了两个月了。
She has been here for two months.
Tā lái le liǎng gè yuè le.
Duration: double 了 for ongoing situation
每天两次 / 一周一次
twice a day / once a week
měi tiān liǎng cì / yī zhōu yī cì
Frequency per time period
我马上来。
I'll come right away.
Wǒ mǎshàng lái.
Imminent action: 马上 (mǎshàng) = right away
原来你在这里！
So you were here all along!
Yuánlái nǐ zài zhèlǐ!
Retrospective discovery: 原来 (yuánlái)