When things happen
Where the time word goes, and how to mark something as done
When things happen
English often puts the time at the end: “I work **today**”. Cantonese does the opposite. The **time comes before the verb**. And to show something is already **done**, you add one small word after the verb.
Time before the verb
(who) + time + verb
The word for when something happens goes before the verb, not at the end. So “I go to work today” is literally “I today go-to-work”.
I go to work today
I go to school tomorrow
He gets up in the morning
Marking something as done
verb + 咗
To show an action is already finished, add 咗 right after the verb. It marks completion, like the difference between “eat” and “ate” in English. The examples below show it in action.
I have eaten
He has gone to sleep
Time first, then done
Put the **time before the verb**, never at the end. And to show something is already **done**, add **咗** straight after the verb.