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Lesson

来得及 / 来不及 (in time / too late)

1. Explain it simply

来得及 means there is still enough time to do something before a deadline.

来不及 is the opposite: there is not enough time, it is too late.

They are fixed words, so keep each one whole: S + (还) 来得及 / 来不及 + verb phrase.

还 often comes before 来得及 to stress that there is still time: 现在出发还来得及.

2. Show examples

现在出发还来得及。

Xiànzài chūfā hái láidejí.

There is still time to leave now.

还来得及 = there is still time

太晚了,已经来不及了。

Tài wǎn le, yǐjīng láibùjí le.

It is too late; there is no longer enough time.

来不及 = too late now

现在走还来得及。

Xiànzài zǒu hái láidejí.

There is still time to go now.

fixed word, kept whole

3. Share a tip

来得及 and 来不及 are fixed words - keep them whole and after the subject: say 现在还来得及, not 来得及现在还。

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