Difference between revisions of "Expressing "already" with just "le""

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<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 用 我 的 车 吧? <span class="pinyin"> Yòng wǒ de chě ba ?</span><span class="trans">How about using my car ? </span></li>
 
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 用 我 的 车 吧? <span class="pinyin"> Yòng wǒ de chě ba ?</span><span class="trans">How about using my car ? </span></li>
 
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span> 我们 有 车 <em> 了 </em>。<span class="pinyin">  Xièxie, wǒmen yǒu chē <em> le </em>.</span><span class="trans">Thanks.We (already) had a car.</span></li>
 
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span> 我们 有 车 <em> 了 </em>。<span class="pinyin">  Xièxie, wǒmen yǒu chē <em> le </em>.</span><span class="trans">Thanks.We (already) had a car.</span></li>
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<li><span class="speaker">A:</span>  你 要 不 要 告诉 他?<span class="pinyin">  Nǐ bú yào gàosù tā ? </span><span class="trans"> Will you tell him ?</span></li>
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<li><span class="speaker">B:</span> 他 知道 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin"> Tā zhīdào <em> le </em>.</span><span class="trans">He (already)  knew .</span></li>
 
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Revision as of 01:57, 1 July 2015

You understand the word 已经 (yǐjīng) to mean "already" in Chinese, and it is followed with a 了 (le). However, sometimes, that feeling of "already" can also be expressed with 了 (le) alone.

Structure

[Verb phrase] + 了

Examples

  • A: 老板 呢? Lǎobǎn ne ? Where is the boss ?
  • B: Zǒu le .He (already) left.
  • A: 孩子 还在 上 大学 吗? Háizi hái zài shàng dàxué ma ?Are your kids still in college ?
  • B: 毕业 Bìyè le .He (already) graduated.
  • A: 用 我 的 车 吧? Yòng wǒ de chě ba ?How about using my car ?
  • B: 我们 有 车 Xièxie, wǒmen yǒu chē le .Thanks.We (already) had a car.
  • A: 你 要 不 要 告诉 他? Nǐ bú yào gàosù tā ? Will you tell him ?
  • B: 他 知道 Tā zhīdào le .He (already) knew .

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Websites