从 for a Starting Point in Chinese
从
从 introduces where or when something starts. The 从 phrase comes before the main verb: 我从北京来. Pair 从 with 到 to state a complete range, such as 从星期一到星期五. Keep each marker immediately before its endpoint and place the whole range before the action.
Published July 23, 2026
Reviewed July 23, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
Subject + 从 + Start + (到 + End) + Verb
Read the structure
从 introduces where or when something starts. The 从 phrase comes before the main verb: 我从北京来. Pair 从 with 到 to state a complete range, such as 从星期一到星期五. Keep each marker immediately before its endpoint and place the whole range before the action. Keep the model Subject + 从 + Start + (到 + End) + Verb visible while you compare each sentence.
我从北京来。
I come from Beijing.
Choose the right context
Introduce a place of origin before the verb: 我从北京来。 Introduce a starting time: 我们从星期一工作。 Pair it with 到 for a range: 从九点到十点上课。
我们从星期一到星期五工作。
We work from Monday to Friday.
Respect the boundary
Do not move 从 after the place or time it introduces. Do not reverse 从 and 到 in a start-to-end range. Do not put the completed 从…到… range after the main verb in this beginner pattern.
我北京从来。
(I come from Beijing.)
Repair the pattern
从 placed after the place of origin: 从 must introduce its starting point, so it comes immediately before 北京. The entire 从北京 phrase precedes 来. Range markers placed after their endpoints: 从 and 到 each introduce an endpoint, and the complete range precedes the verb: 从星期一到星期五 + 工作.
我从北京来。
Use the repaired structure without changing the intended meaning.
02 / MAP
Read the Sentence
Read from left to right and notice the job performed by each part. The labels describe this example; they are not a rule that every Chinese sentence must copy.
我从北京来。
I come from Beijing.
我
Subject
This part occupies the Subject position in the model pattern.
从
从
This part occupies the 从 position in the model pattern.
北京
Start
This part occupies the Start position in the model pattern.
来
(到
This part occupies the (到 position in the model pattern.
03 / EXAMPLES
Examples You Can Reuse
Keep the structure stable while changing the people, objects, times, or conditions. Pinyin is shown as reading support; use the Chinese sentence and translation to confirm the grammar relationship.
我从北京来。
I come from Beijing.
我们从星期一到星期五工作。
We work from Monday to Friday.
我从九点到十点上课。
I have class from nine to ten.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- Introduce a place of origin before the verb: 我从北京来。
- Introduce a starting time: 我们从星期一工作。
- Pair it with 到 for a range: 从九点到十点上课。
Do not use it when
- Do not move 从 after the place or time it introduces.
- Do not reverse 从 and 到 in a start-to-end range.
- Do not put the completed 从…到… range after the main verb in this beginner pattern.
05 / REPAIR
Compare Right and Wrong
Compare the smallest meaningful change. Each explanation identifies a placement, scope, form, or clause relationship instead of treating the whole sentence as one undifferentiated mistake.
我北京从来。
我从北京来。
从 placed after the place of origin
从 must introduce its starting point, so it comes immediately before 北京. The entire 从北京 phrase precedes 来.
我们工作星期一从星期五到。
我们从星期一到星期五工作。
Range markers placed after their endpoints
从 and 到 each introduce an endpoint, and the complete range precedes the verb: 从星期一到星期五 + 工作.
我北京从来。
从 must introduce its starting point, so it comes immediately before 北京. The entire 从北京 phrase precedes 来.
我们工作星期一从星期五到。
从 and 到 each introduce an endpoint, and the complete range precedes the verb: 从星期一到星期五 + 工作.
06 / PRACTICE
Practice the Grammar Point
Complete three short tasks in order: judge the pattern, repair a common error, and build the sentence. Feedback is fixed and reviewed, so these activities do not use a checker allowance.
1. Judge the sentence
2. Choose the correction
3. Build the sentence
Build a complete sentence with 从.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 从. Your draft moves to the checker through this browser session, selects this grammar point as the first review focus, and waits for you to submit.
08 / QUESTIONS
从 for a Starting Point Questions
Where does a 从 phrase go?
Before the main verb: 我从北京来 and 我从九点上课. 从 immediately precedes the starting place or time.
How do I say from A to B?
Use 从 + A + 到 + B before the action: 我们从星期一到星期五工作. Keep the endpoints in start-to-end order.
09 / SOURCES
Sources and Review Notes
These references support different parts of the lesson. GF0025-2021 supports level placement only; professional grammar works support the explanation, limits, examples, and cross-checks. Their inclusion does not imply endorsement.
Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education (GF0025-2021)
Ministry of Education and State Language Commission · Ministry of Education of the PRC · 2021
Locator: Appendix A, A.1.1.7.1 引出时间、处所, 【一15】从
Supports placement in HSK 1; it does not independently establish the usage explanation.
Official sourceModern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide, 3rd ed.
Ross, Ma, Chen, He and Yeh · Routledge · 2024
Locator: §14.2.4 (从 for movement from a location and 从…到… ranges)
从 introduces a source or starting point and can pair with 到 for a start-to-end path or range before the main verb.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
Continue learning
时间Time Word Placement
Apply the starting-point phrase inside the normal pre-predicate position for time expressions.
Compare
往 + 方向Directional Preposition 往
从 marks the movement origin, while 往 introduces the direction or destination approached.
Easy to confuse
自 + 时间 / 处所自 for a Formal Time or Place Starting Point
Compare neutral 从 with formal 自 before a starting point in time or space.
Easy to confuse
由 + 起点由 for an Origin or Entry Point
从 and 由 both introduce movement origins but differ in common collocations and register.
RECOMMENDED NEXT
Continue learning
Apply the starting-point phrase inside the normal pre-predicate position for time expressions.