came early

[GU1city]

I am comparing different ways of saying the sentence/segment “I came early today”.

(I got this from an online translator, but they are never accurate - http://www.worldlingo.com/)

我今天來了早期。

Wŏ jīn tiān lái le zăo qí.

今天我及早來了。

Jīn tiān wŏ jí zăo lái le.

I am not sure about the expression 及早 jí zăo (as soon as). Why would you use this expression in this context?

Also does it make a big difference where I put 我? Before or after 今天?

What’s the difference if I just say 早, instead of 早期 zăo qí (earlier time)?

[skylee]

Consider 今天我來(得)早了 or 我今天來(得)早了.

及早 ~ as early as possible (like in a piece of advice, like something should be done earlier instead of later)

早期 ~ early stage/phase (like describing the extent of cancer, or a person's career etc)

if you just say 早, it could mean good morning.

[universe2278]

good post,but i have to say forget those online translation servers,they can only offer u nothing but stupid sentences.

now come to the topic .

I came early today in Chinese is "我今天提前来了" or "今天我提前来了" . they make no difference with each other .

[necroflux]

I have some suggestions but I'm not sure which is best out of these:

"我今天來得早一點"

"我今天早來了"

"我今天早一點來的" - Can someone help as to what the context would have to be for this one to make sense? I tend to over use this grammar without really knowing the purpose.

[HashiriKata]

Looking at those sentences offered so far, I think the sentences by skylee:

今天我來(得)早了 or 我今天來(得)早了.

are the most natural.

Surprisingly, I find (those in post #3)

我今天提前来了 or 今天我提前来了

a bit unusual in this context, but this must be due to my limited exposure to Chinese.

The offer by necroflux seems all ok, but only in specific contexts:

both "我今天來得早一點" and "我今天早來了" sound a bit apologetic, whereas in "我今天早一點來的", there seems to be a strong focus on 早一點來. All three seem to be explanations of one kind or another.

Edited May 17, 2009 at 07:36 PM by HashiriKata

[skylee]

I think "我今天提前來了" and "今天我提前來了" indicate clearly that the early arrival was planned because of the use of "提前".

I think both "我今天來得早一點" and "我今天早來了" are ok.

[sea-au-don]

早一点 redundantly implies how early; 我今天早来了 will do.

[GU1city]

Thanks all for your advice and opinions. I am trying to distinguish between:

1) I came early (earlier than expected, earlier than anyone else, could be later in the day).

2) I came early (early in the morning, regardless of on time or not).

Would "我今天來得早一點" translate as "I came earlier today" and "我今天早來了" as "I came early"? The first implying for example that I arrived to a meeting an hour before, and the second just early in the day?

Then the 提前 would make sense (for 1) wouldn’t it? As in "今天我提前来了". Or does it sound too unusual?

[HashiriKata]

Thanks all for your advice and opinions. I am trying to distinguish between:

1) I came early (earlier than expected, earlier than anyone else, could be later in the day).

2) I came early (early in the morning, regardless of on time or not).

Ok, I'll try to answer your questions based on what I've learned from the posts above (So, if I'm wrong, blame others! )

1. （比大家）我來早了.

2. 很早我就来了 (但比他们我还是慢)

Then the 提前 would make sense (for 1) wouldn’t it? As in "今天我提前来了".

Perhaps not, unless, as skylee indicated above, you came early on purpose.