How to use 一直
Subj. + 一直 + Predicate
一直 presents an action or state as continuing across a stretch of time. It precedes the predicate and can describe an ongoing activity, a lasting preference, or a situation that has remained unchanged. The relevant period may be stated explicitly or understood from what the speakers are discussing.
English sometimes translates this continuity with “always,” but 一直 does not necessarily mean every possible occasion throughout someone's life. It may concern only an evening, a job, or the time since a particular event. The construction can also look forward when context is future. Choose other aspect markers according to the activity, rather than assuming that 一直 alone determines tense or completion.
Examples with pinyin and English
我一直在学习中文。
I've been studying Chinese all along.
昨天晚上我一直在做作业。
Yesterday evening I was continuously doing homework.
老板一直很忙。
The boss is always very busy.
我一直很喜欢你。
I've always liked you a lot.
What to remember
- Use 一直 before the predicate.
- Identify the period of continuous activity.
- English “always” may describe limited periods.
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Source and editorial notes
Explanation rewritten for Laowai. Examples are adapted from the Laowai English grammar curriculum, with editorial corrections where needed. The original curriculum credits AllSet Learning’s Chinese Grammar Wiki as used with permission. Read the retained source credits.
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