Answer: A
Xiànzài shì shí yī diǎn sān shí fēn, tāmen yǐjīng yóu le èr shí fēnzhōng le.
现在 是 11 点 30 分， 他们 已经 游 了 20 分钟 了。
It is 11:30 now, they have already swam for 20 minutes.
The sentence has two key words related to time that tell you the answer. In the beginning of the sentence is “现在 (Xiànzài) now,” telling you what time it is now. In the second half of the sentence is “已经 (yǐjīng) already,” telling you they have already been swimming for 20 minutes. The rest is just math. If it is 11:30 now and they started swimming 20 minutes ago, you can be sure they started swimming at 11:10.
Let’s take a closer look at “已经 (yǐjīng).” It means “already/have (got)/had been” in English. Since it implies past tense it is commonly paired with “了 (le)“ in sentences: 已经⋯⋯了 (yǐjīng⋯⋯ le).
Nǐ yǐjīng chī guò zǎofàn le ma?
你 已经 吃 过 早饭 了 吗？
Have you already had your breakfast?
This sentence pattern is one you can be sure you will see on the HSK test for more advanced levels.
HSK Quiz: Put the Chinese sentences in order!
HSK grammar: Learn how to use conjunctions in Chinese
HSK Chinese quiz: Who is the “一把手 (yī bǎ shǒu)”
<<Back to HSK 2 Quiz: Practice Chinese Grammar with “已经 already”
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very useful
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