This slide show was created to supplement NH2, Times and Dates. Watch the vodcast on my Youtube channel, Narralakes.

1. Key Structures
1
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

2. Key Structures
2
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

3. Key Structures
3
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

4. Key Structures
4
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

5. Key Structures
5
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

6. Key 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

7. Key Structures
7
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