EXERCISE ON "JIU" AND "CAI"

Both "Jiu" (就) and "Cai" (才) are adverbs which relate the verb they modify to a previously specified time or action. Both are often translated as "then". However, "Jiu" implies that the verb it modifies is earlier or sooner than might have been expected, while "Cai" implies that the verb it modifies is later than might have been expected. (Translation hint: the Chinese pattern "Time/Action cai verb" is often expressed by "neg. Verb until Time/Action" in English--don't let the English pattern confuse you.) Practice making distinctions below

我們九點上課,可是老師今天九點一刻來。
你得多練習, 我們明天有考試了。
我昨天玩兒得很高興,半夜一點回家。
我們九點上課,可是老師八點三刻來了。
我今天吃得很早, 十一點半吃午飯了。
他說他明天要來, 可是今天來了。
他睡得很晚, 半夜三點睡。


LESSON SEVEN EXERCISE INDEX