Kilo Lingo

Mandarin · Chapter 20 · Lesson 8 · Common mistake

刚 or 刚才?

Both mean just now. They go in different places.

The rule

刚 (gang1) is an adverb and sits BEFORE the verb: 我刚到. 刚才 (gang1-cai2) is a time word meaning a moment ago, and it sits before the whole clause: 刚才我在家. Both mean just now, and they occupy different slots in the sentence.

Pick the right one

0/6

Pick the right one: 刚 or 刚才.

  1. 我到。 (I have just arrived)

    wǒ ___ dào 。 (I have just arrived)

  2. 我在家。 (a moment ago I was at home)

    ___ wǒ zài jiā 。 (a moment ago I was at home)

  3. 他走。 (he just left)

    tā ___ zǒu 。 (he just left)

  4. 你说什么？ (what did you say just now?)

    ___ nǐ shuō shén me ？ (what did you say just now?)

  5. 我们开始。 (we have only just started)

    wǒ men ___ kāi shǐ 。 (we have only just started)

  6. 的事我不知道。 (I do not know about what just happened)

    ___ de shì wǒ bù zhī dào 。 (I do not know about what just happened)