ABSTRACT

Second, yHqián is placed immediately after an expression of chronological time (26d), durational time (26e), a verb phrase (26f), or a clause (26g) to form a spe­ cific time-when expression, meaning ‘before. . . .’ Attached to the word, phrase, or clause, yHqián can be shortened to ࠡ qián. The entire expres sion functions as an adverbial modifier to the main action. The phrase with ҹࠡ (yH)qián must precede the main verb phrase in a sentence, whereas the subject of the sentence may stand before or after the phrase with (yH)qián. See examples 26d-g.