<p>In Chinese sometimes a sentense may lack a time, which is quite different from English, which has a specific tense. In this case the tense depends on the text and the language environment but not always means a same way. </p>

<p>For example, imagine that if you were buying a ticket and saw some people who hold tickets, "他们都拿着票" would mean progressive tense. If it is a narrative, it may means past tense.</p>

<p>As for "了"，"了" can be used in many tense.
See this <a href="https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/16/tense-and-use-of-%E4%BA%86"><em>Tense and use of 了</em></a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-05T03:39:02.853Z
Yeah..there was no context, it was just an example, so thank you for clarifying.  I understand how to use 了, but my question was, can it still be indicative of past tense WITHOUT 了？
Abe Shudug
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-05T04:01:36.267Z
Of course. It's very flexible.
xzqsr
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-05T04:08:34.983Z
I will communicate with you at sometime through Google..I am busy studying right now..I don't like to break pace.  I love you btw
Abe Shudug
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-05T04:13:18.780Z
Great! I'm expecting! haha :)
xzqsr
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-05T02:46:11.463Z
2017-07-05T02:46:11.463Z
xzqsr
<p>I saw this example on another website:
他们都拿着票。</p>

<p>Tāmen dōu názhe piào.</p>

<p>They were all holding tickets.</p>

<p>I noticed that it said they <em>were</em> all holding tickets.
Does that imply it is the past tense?
Or is it a narrative?</p>

<p>If a sentence lacks a time indication is it always a certain way?
Should this sentence include 了？</p>

<grammar><time>
The absence of specifying when something happens in Chinese
# The absence of specifying when something happens in Chinese

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-07-05)

I saw this example on another website:
他们都拿着票。

Tāmen dōu názhe piào.

They were all holding tickets.

I noticed that it said they *were* all holding tickets.
Does that imply it is the past tense?
Or is it a narrative?

If a sentence lacks a time indication is it always a certain way?
Should this sentence include 了？

**Tags:** grammar, time


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2017-07-05. Score: 0 | Accepted answer

In Chinese sometimes a sentense may lack a time, which is quite different from English, which has a specific tense. In this case the tense depends on the text and the language environment but not always means a same way.

For example, imagine that if you were buying a ticket and saw some people who hold tickets, "他们都拿着票" would mean progressive tense. If it is a narrative, it may means past tense.

As for "了"，"了" can be used in many tense.
See this [*Tense and use of 了*](https://chinese.stackexchange.com/questions/16/tense-and-use-of-%E4%BA%86)

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Yeah..there was no context, it was just an example, so thank you for clarifying.  I understand how to use 了, but my question was, can it still be indicative of past tense WITHOUT 了？  
> **username_1**: Of course. It's very flexible.  
> **username_0**: I will communicate with you at sometime through Google..I am busy studying right now..I don't like to break pace.  I love you btw  
> **username_1**: Great! I'm expecting! haha :)  

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