喝 = 喝
the verb never changes: a time word says when
Structure
主语 + 昨天／今天／明天 + 动词 （动词不变）
What it means
Chinese verbs never change form: no -s, no -ed, no “will”. A time word says when; a number says how many.
How it is built
Subject + time word + verb: 他今天去北京，明天去长城 (He's going to Beijing today and to the Great Wall tomorrow). A number for more than one: 两个老师 (two teachers).
When to use it
是 is both “is” and “was”; 去 is “go”, “went” and “will go”. For one finished action you often add 了, the little word from lesson p-6: 我昨天去了长城.
Watch out
Don't look for a past form of the verb: 了 is a separate word, and 去 itself never changes. Nouns take no -s either: ✗ 两个老师们 ✓ 两个老师.
Examples
昨天是十月十日，今天是十月十一日。
Yesterday was 10 October; today is 11 October.
他今天去北京，明天去长城。
He’s going to Beijing today and to the Great Wall tomorrow.
一个老师，两个老师。
One teacher, two teachers.
Learn this in 启蒙 · Lesson 7: 我喝茶 (How a sentence works)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
Open the lesson →