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HSK 4 Fixed Phrases: 来得及 and 来不及 (Having Enough Time vs. Too Late)
来得及 and 来不及 express whether there is enough time to do something before a deadline or critical moment. Use 来得及 when the action can be done in time and 来不及 when the available time is insufficient; the deadline need not have passed yet.
电影八点才开始，我们现在出发还来得及。
Uses 还来得及 at the end of the clause to reassure the listener that leaving now is early enough.
× 时间太短了，我今天不来得及写完这篇报告。
For this intended meaning, replace 不来得及 with the usual negative form 来不及, as in the next example.
Corrected example: 时间太短了，我今天来不及写完这篇报告。
Read the full explanation and examples
Core Meaning and Syllabus Scope
In the HSK 4 grammar outline, 来得及 and 来不及 are listed under fixed phrases (固定短语) as a paired expression for judging whether available time is sufficient for an action. While built like potential complements using 来 (to come/manage), 得 (can), and 不 (cannot), in modern Mandarin they function as idiomatic units about deadlines and timing rather than physical movement.
- 来得及 means there is still enough time to do something, or it is not too late.
- 来不及 means there is not enough time to do something, or it is already too late.
Pattern 1: Standalone Predicate After a Situation or Action
The most common way to use 来得及 and 来不及 is at the end of a sentence or clause as the main predicate. First, state the time, condition, or planned action; then follow it with 来得及 or 来不及 to judge whether that plan works within the time limit.
In natural conversation, 来得及 very often pairs with the adverb 还 (still) to reassure someone that time has not run out. Conversely, 来不及 frequently pairs with the sentence-final particle 了 to indicate a new or imminent situation where time is no longer sufficient, as well as adverbs like 已经 (already) or 肯定 (definitely).
电影八点才开始，我们现在出发还来得及。
Uses 还来得及 at the end of the clause to reassure the listener that leaving now is early enough.
已经七点五十了，坐公共汽车肯定来不及了。
Uses 来不及了 as a standalone predicate after the proposed action (taking the bus).
Pattern 2: Directly Before a Verb Phrase
Both phrases can also be placed directly before a verb phrase to specify which action can or cannot be completed in time. This is especially frequent with 来不及 when explaining why an everyday task was skipped in a rush.
只要你今天下午寄出去，就来得及在周末前送到。
Places 来得及 directly before the verb phrase 在周末前送到.
今天早上起晚了，我来不及吃早饭就去上班了。
Places 来不及 directly before the verb-object phrase 吃早饭.
Notice that a noun cannot directly follow 来得及 or 来不及 as an object. If you want to say there is not enough time for breakfast or a train, you must include the appropriate verb—such as 吃早饭 (eat breakfast) or 赶火车 (catch the train)—or move the noun to the beginning of the sentence as a topic.
Asking Questions and Useful Contrasts
To ask whether there is enough time, you can add 吗 to the positive form (来得及吗) or juxtapose the positive and negative forms in an affirmative-negative question (来得及来不及).
下午三点的火车，我们两点去车站来得及吗？
Sets the time condition first and asks 来得及吗 at the end.
Learners often confuse 来不及 with 迟到 (to arrive late). While both involve time pressure, their focus and grammar differ:
- 来不及 focuses on whether available time is sufficient to complete an action (such as eating breakfast, finishing a report, or catching a bus). It can take a verb phrase directly after it.
- 迟到 means arriving after the expected time. It does not introduce a following action in the way 来不及 does in 来不及吃早饭. A sentence can still mention another action after 迟到 if the two actions are separately linked.
Common Learner Mistake: External Negation
The usual negative partner of 来得及 is 来不及, with 不 inside the phrase. For the intended meaning “not enough time”, use 来不及 rather than 不来得及. This does not mean that 没来得及 is wrong: it is also natural when reporting that an action was not managed in time.
× 时间太短了，我今天不来得及写完这篇报告。
For this intended meaning, replace 不来得及 with the usual negative form 来不及, as in the next example.
Corrected example: 时间太短了，我今天来不及写完这篇报告。
时间太短了，我今天来不及写完这篇报告。
Uses 来不及 before 写完这篇报告. The report, time limit and intended negative meaning remain the same.
Both 昨天我来不及吃早饭 and 昨天我没来得及吃早饭 can naturally describe missing breakfast yesterday. 来不及 highlights insufficient time; 没来得及 reports that the action was not managed in time. Adding 还 gives 还没来得及, “had not yet had the chance”, often before an interruption. 还 and an explicit interruption are not required for 没来得及.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put a noun directly after 来得及 or 来不及?
No. Neither phrase can take a direct noun object. Instead of putting a noun like 'breakfast' or 'flight' directly after 来不及, include a verb (such as 来不及吃早饭 or 来不及赶飞机) or place the noun at the start of the sentence as the topic.
Why do native speakers sometimes say 还没来得及 if 来得及 cannot be negated with 不?
来不及 is the usual negative partner of 来得及. 没来得及 is also normal when saying that an action was not managed in time, as in 昨天我没来得及吃早饭. 还 adds “yet” in 还没来得及. Neither 还 nor an interruption is compulsory; avoid 不来得及 for the basic negative form.
How is 来不及 different from 没时间 (to have no time)?
没时间 states generally that you lack free time or are busy, whereas 来不及 specifically means the remaining time before a deadline or event is too short to complete the action in time.
