Difference between revisions of "Expressing "already" with just "le""
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{{Grammar Box}} | {{Grammar Box}} | ||
| − | You understand the word [[ASGNXI27|已经 (yǐjīng)]] to mean "already" in Chinese, and it is followed with a [[了|了 (le)]]. However, sometimes, that feeling of "already" can also be expressed with 了 (le) alone. | + | You understand the word [[ASGNXI27|已经 (yǐjīng)]] to mean "already" in Chinese, and it is followed with a [[了|了 (le)]]. However, sometimes, that feeling of "already" can also be expressed with 了 (le) alone if it is used in response to a preceding question or statement. |
== Structure == | == Structure == | ||
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</div> | </div> | ||
| + | |||
| + | When "already" is implied using this structure, it is usually (if not always) in response to a preceding question or statement. Therefore, the following examples are in dialogue format. | ||
== Examples == | == Examples == | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
<ul class="dialog"> | <ul class="dialog"> | ||
| − | <li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 老板 呢？<span class="pinyin"> Lǎobǎn ne ? </span><span class="trans">Where is the boss ?</span></li> | + | <li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 老板 呢？<span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn ne?</span><span class="trans">Where is the boss?</span></li> |
| − | <li><span class="speaker">B:</span> 走 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin"> | + | <li><span class="speaker">B:</span>他 走 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin">Tā zǒu <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">He (already) left.</span></li> |
</ul> | </ul> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
<ul class="dialog"> | <ul class="dialog"> | ||
| − | <li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 孩子 还在 上 大学 吗？ <span class="pinyin"> Háizi hái zài shàng dàxué ma ?</span><span class="trans">Are your kids still in college ?</span></li> | + | <li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 孩子 还在 上 大学 吗？<span class="pinyin">Háizi hái zài shàng dàxué ma?</span><span class="trans">Are your kids still in college?</span></li> |
| − | <li><span class="speaker">B:</span> 毕业 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin"> | + | <li><span class="speaker">B:</span>他们 毕业 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin">Tāmen bìyè <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">They (already) graduated.</span></li> |
</ul> | </ul> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
<ul class="dialog"> | <ul class="dialog"> | ||
| − | <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> | + | <li><span class="speaker">B:</span>谢谢，我们 有 车 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin">Xièxie, wǒmen yǒu chē <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">Thanks. We (already) have a car.</span></li> |
</ul> | </ul> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
<ul class="dialog"> | <ul class="dialog"> | ||
| − | <li><span class="speaker">A:</span> | + | <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">Are you going to tell him?</span></li> |
| − | <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) | + | <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) knows.</span></li> |
</ul> | </ul> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
<ul class="dialog"> | <ul class="dialog"> | ||
| − | <li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 你 应该 去 问 老师。<span class="pinyin"> | + | <li><span class="speaker">A:</span>你 应该 去 问 老师。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ yīnggāi qù wèn lǎoshī. </span><span class="trans">You should go ask the teacher.</span></li> |
| − | <li><span class="speaker">B:</span> 我 问 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin"> Wǒ wèn <em> le </em>.</span><span class="trans">I (already) did .</span></li> | + | <li><span class="speaker">B:</span>我 问 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ wèn <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">I (already) did.</span></li> |
</ul> | </ul> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
<ul class="dialog"> | <ul class="dialog"> | ||
| − | <li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 你 的 书 呢？<span class="pinyin"> Nǐ de shū ne？</span><span class="trans"> Where are your books? </span></li> | + | <li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 你 的 书 呢？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ de shū ne？</span><span class="trans">Where are your books?</span></li> |
| − | <li><span class="speaker">B:</span> 放 包里 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin"> Fàng bāo lǐ <em> le </em>.</span><span class="trans">I (already) put them in my | + | <li><span class="speaker">B:</span> 放 包里 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin">Fàng bāo lǐ <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">I (already) put them in my bag.</span></li> |
</ul> | </ul> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
<ul class="dialog"> | <ul class="dialog"> | ||
| − | <li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 我们 买 什么 给 她 呢？<span class="pinyin"> Wǒmen mǎi shénme gěi tā ne? </span><span class="trans"> What should we buy | + | <li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 我们 买 什么 给 她 呢？<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen mǎi shénme gěi tā ne?</span><span class="trans">What should we buy for her?</span></li> |
| − | <li><span class="speaker">B:</span> 他 说 <em>了</em> 她 什么 都 | + | <li><span class="speaker">B:</span>他 说 <em>了</em> 她 什么 都 不 要。<span class="pinyin">Tā shuō <em>le</em> tā shénme dōu bú yào.</span><span class="trans">She (already) said that she doesn't want anything.</span></li> |
</ul> | </ul> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
<ul class="dialog"> | <ul class="dialog"> | ||
| − | <li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 我们 去 找 他 一起 吃饭 吧？<span class="pinyin"> Wǒmen qù zhǎo tā chīfàn ba ? </span><span class="trans"> Shall we ask him to have dinner together ?</span></li> | + | <li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 我们 去 找 他 一起 吃饭 吧？<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen qù zhǎo tā yīqǐ chīfàn ba? </span><span class="trans">Shall we ask him to have dinner together?</span></li> |
| − | <li><span class="speaker">B:</span> 他 在 家 吃 <em>了</em> 。<span class="pinyin"> Tā zài jāi chī <em> le </em>.</span><span class="trans">He (already) ate at home.</span></li> | + | <li><span class="speaker">B:</span>他 在 家 吃 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin">Tā zài jāi chī <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">He (already) ate at home.</span></li> |
</ul> | </ul> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
Revision as of 06:06, 1 July 2015
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Level
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Similar to
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Used for
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Keywords
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 if it is used in response to a preceding question or statement.
Structure
[Verb phrase] + 了
When "already" is implied using this structure, it is usually (if not always) in response to a preceding question or statement. Therefore, the following examples are in dialogue format.
Examples
- A: 老板 呢？Where is the boss?
- B:他 走 了。He (already) left.
- A: 孩子 还在 上 大学 吗？Are your kids still in college?
- B:他们 毕业 了。They (already) graduated.
- A: 用 我 的 车 吧？ How about using my car?
- B:谢谢，我们 有 车 了。Thanks. We (already) have a car.
- A:你 要 不 要 告诉 他？Are you going to tell him?
- B:他 知道 了。He (already) knows.
- A:你 应该 去 问 老师。You should go ask the teacher.
- B:我 问 了。I (already) did.
- A: 你 的 书 呢？Where are your books?
- B: 放 包里 了。I (already) put them in my bag.
- A: 我们 买 什么 给 她 呢？What should we buy for her?
- B:他 说 了 她 什么 都 不 要。She (already) said that she doesn't want anything.
- A: 我们 去 找 他 一起 吃饭 吧？Shall we ask him to have dinner together?
- B:他 在 家 吃 了。He (already) ate at home.
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
- Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar (p. 68) →buy
- Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (pp. 126-9) →buy
- Mandarin Chinese: A Functional Reference Grammar (pp. 238-99) →buy
- New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2) (pp. 217-8) →buy
- New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3) (pp. 64-5) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed) (p. 8) →buy
- 40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课上册） (p. 239)→buy
Websites
- Chinesegrammar.info: Chinese le grammar summary (了)
