HSK 1
时间副词：马上、先、有时、在、正、正在
shí jiān fù cí ： mǎ shàng 、 xiān 、 yǒu shí 、 zài 、 zhèng 、 zhèng zài
Adverbs of time: 马上, 先, 有时, 在, 正, 正在
Explanation
These are adverbs (副词 fùcí — words placed before the verb to add meaning about time, degree, etc.) of time.
Subject (the doer, the person or thing at the start of the sentence) + adverb + Verb. 马上 (mǎshàng) = "immediately" (something about to happen); 先 (xiān) = "first" (indicating order); 有时 (yǒushí) = "sometimes" (infrequent frequency); 在 (zài) / 正 (zhèng) / 正在 (zhèngzài) = "in the middle of doing" (an action in progress), often accompanied by 呢 (ne) at the end of the sentence.
在 emphasizes the ongoing state; 正 emphasizes the exact moment; 正在 emphasizes both the moment and the process that is happening.
正 usually must be followed by an object or 呢 (正吃饭呢), rarely standing alone; 在 and 正在 are more flexible.
placing the adverb AFTER the verb (wrong: 来马上); using both 正在 and 了 at the same time — since 了 indicates a completed action, which contradicts "in progress".
Examples
The doctor is coming right away.
Teacher, let me speak first.
He sometimes has class in the evening.
I am watching TV.
Wait a moment, he is eating.
They are singing.
Practice
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The grammar point “时间副词：马上、先、有时、在、正、正在” (Adverbs of time: 马上, 先, 有时, 在, 正, 正在) is one of the key structures at HSK 1. To use it fluently, you need to understand the contexts where it's used and practice regularly.
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