Difference between revisions of "Expressing "already" with just "le""
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<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">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> | ||
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Revision as of 07:29, 28 September 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.
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)
