Difference between revisions of "Expressing completion with "le""
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== Putting 了 After a Verb with an Object ==
 
== Putting 了 After a Verb with an Object ==
  
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=== Verb + 了 + Obj. Structure ===
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Here is where things start to get slightly more complicated. If the verb has an object, 了 (le) can go directly after the verb to indicate completion, but there are a few other conditions that should be met.
  
−
If the verb has an object, 了 (le) ''can'' go directly after the verb, but only when the object has a bit of extra information attached to it. This pattern works if the sentence includes more information about the object, such as how many there are, or some additional adjectives describing the object. (The object can't be "bare," or unmodified.)
+
=== When Time is Specified ===
 +
 
 +
It's a good idea to [[Time words and word order|specify the time]] anyway, if you're still getting used to Chinese verbs not indicating tenses by themselves. When you do this, it's generally OK to put the 了 (le) right after the verb and before the object.
 +
 
 +
==== Structure ====
 +
 
 +
<div class="jiegou">
 +
Subj. + Time + Verb + 了 + Obj. 
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
<div class="jiegou">
 +
Time + Subj. + Verb + 了 + Obj. 
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
==== Examples ====
 +
 
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
 
 +
* 我 <strong>今天</strong> 吃 <em>了</em> 早饭 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <strong>jīntiān</strong> chī <em>le</em> zǎofàn.</span><span class="trans">This morning I ate breakfast.</span>
 +
* 她 <strong>上个 月</strong> 去 <em>了</em>  北京 。<span class="pinyin">Tā <strong>shàng gè yuè</strong> qù <em>le</em>  Běijīng.</span><span class="trans">Last month she went to Beijing.</span>
 +
* <strong>中午</strong> 我 见 <em>了</em> 朋友 。<span class="pinyin"><strong>Zhōngwǔ</strong> wǒ jiàn <em>le</em> péngyou.</span><span class="trans">At noon I met a friend.</span>
 +
 
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
=== When the Object's Quantity is Specified ===
 +
 
 +
This pattern works if the sentence includes more information about the object, such as [[Measure words for counting|how many]] there are.
 +
 
 +
==== Structure ====
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
−
Subj. + Verb + 了 + [Information] + Obj.   
+
Subj. + Verb + 了 + [Number + Measure Word] + Obj.   
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
−
=== Verb + 了 + Obj. Examples ===
+
(Make sure you're clear on [[Measure words for counting|what a measure word is and how to use them]].)
 +
 
 +
==== Examples ====
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
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*我 买 <em>了</em> <strong>三 本</strong> 书 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ mǎi <em>le</em> <strong>sān běn</strong> shū.</span><span class="trans">I bought three books.</span>
 
*我 买 <em>了</em> <strong>三 本</strong> 书 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ mǎi <em>le</em> <strong>sān běn</strong> shū.</span><span class="trans">I bought three books.</span>
 
*我 喝 <em>了</em> <strong>两 杯</strong> 咖啡 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ hē <em>le</em> <strong>liǎng bēi</strong> kāfēi.</span><span class="trans">I drank two cups of coffee.</span>
 
*我 喝 <em>了</em> <strong>两 杯</strong> 咖啡 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ hē <em>le</em> <strong>liǎng bēi</strong> kāfēi.</span><span class="trans">I drank two cups of coffee.</span>
−
*他 买 <em>了</em> <strong>新 手机</strong>  。 <span class="pinyin">Tā mǎi <em>le</em> <strong>xīn shǒujī</strong>.</span><span class="trans">He bought a new cell phone.</span>
 
−
*他 打 <em>了</em> <strong>最 坏 的</strong> 人 。<span class="pinyin">Tā dǎ <em>le</em> <strong>zuì huài de</strong> rén.</span><span class="trans">He hit the worst guy.</span>
 
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
−
=== Verb + Obj. + 了 Structure ===
+
=== When 了 Comes After the Object ===
  
−
So what if you don't want to add in lots of information describing the object? In this case, the 了 (le) can simply go after the object. You might think of it as the 了 (le) indicating completion "wanting to stay close to the verb."
+
OK, so here's the tricky part. Even when indicating completion, the 了 (le) can sometimes go after the object. This is not a topic that can be covered in depth at the [[A2|elementary level]], but you should be aware that [[Advanced "le" after an object|this does happen]] too.
 +
 
 +
==== Structure ====
 +
 
 +
<div class="jiegou">
 +
Subj. + Verb + Obj. + 了 
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
==== Examples ====
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
−
*上个月 我 去 <strong>台湾</strong> <em>了</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Shàng gè yuè wǒ qù <strong>Táiwān</strong> <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">I went to Taiwan last month.</span>
+
* 上个 月 我 去 <strong>台湾</strong> <em>了</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Shàng gè yuè wǒ qù <strong>Táiwān</strong> <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">I went to Taiwan last month.</span>
−
*昨天 晚上 我 看见 <strong>UFO</strong> <em>了</em> 。 <span class="pinyin">Zuótiān wǎnshang wǒ kànjiàn <em>le</em> <strong>UFO</strong>.</span><span class="trans">I saw a UFO last night.</span>
+
* 昨天 晚上 我 看见 <strong>UFO</strong> <em>了</em> 。 <span class="pinyin">Zuótiān wǎnshang wǒ kànjiàn <strong>UFO</strong> <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">I saw a UFO last night.</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
 +
 +
If you're [[B2|upper intermediate]]-ish and think you can "handle the truth," also check out our more advanced, full exposé on [[Advanced "le" after an object|了 (le) after an object]].
  
 
== Putting 了 After Consecutive Actions ==
 
== Putting 了 After Consecutive Actions ==
  
−
To keep things simple, we'll make the first action "coming" or "going" somewhere, which will be followed by another action. So we'll be using 来 (lái) or 去 (qù) in Each sengtence. For this type of "consecutive action," 了 (le) should be placed after the ''second'' verb (or verb phrase), which marks the completion of the entire sequence.  
+
So what happens if a whole string of things happened in the past? Do you have to put a 了 (le) after each one, just like we'd put each verb in the past tense in English? Good question! The short answer is that you only need one 了 (le).
 +
 
 +
To keep things simple, we'll make the first action "coming" or "going" somewhere, which will be followed by another action. So we'll be using 来 (lái) or 去 (qù) plus a place in each sentence, and then another action. For this type of "consecutive action," 了 (le) should be placed after the ''final'' verb (or verb phrase), which marks the completion of the entire sequence.  
 +
 
 +
=== Structure ===
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
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</div>
 
</div>
  
−
A few examples:
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=== Examples ===
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
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== Completion in the Future ==
 
== Completion in the Future ==
  
−
The examples above indicate a completed action, but they might also seem very similar to a "past tense" in English. To illustrate that 了 (le) can also indicate that one action is completed before another in the ''future'', see the following examples:
+
了 (le) can appear in sentences about the future as well as the past. What's important is whether or not the action has been ''completed'', no matter what time frame we're talking about. This also means that this 了 (le) isn't used with habitual or continuous actions.
−
 
 
−
<div class="liju">
 
−
 
 
−
*我 下课 <em>了</em> 以后 去 找 你 。<span class="expl">future action</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ xiàkè <em>le</em> yǐhòu qù zhǎo nǐ .</span><span class="trans">I will go find you after I finish class.</span>
 
−
*你 下班 <em>了</em> 以后 给 我 打 电话 。<span class="expl">future action</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ ​xiàbān <em>le</em> yǐhòu gěi wǒ dǎ diànhuà.</span><span class="trans">After you get off work, give me a call.</span>
 
−
*你 到 <em>了</em> 以后 告诉 我 。<span class="expl">future action</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ dào <em>le</em> yǐhòu gàosu wǒ.</span><span class="trans">After you have arrived, tell me.</span>
 
−
 
 
−
</div>
 
−
 
 
−
As you can see, 了 (le) can appear in sentences about the future as well as the past. What's important is whether or not the action has been ''completed'', no matter what time frame we're talking about. This also means that this 了 (le) isn't used with habitual or continuous actions.
 
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
  
−
*[[Expressing experiences with verbs]]
+
*[[Using "guo" with "le"]]
 +
*[[Advanced "le" after an object]]
 
*[[Uses of "le"]]
 
*[[Uses of "le"]]
−
*[[Using "guo" with "le"]]
 
  
 
== Sources and further reading ==
 
== Sources and further reading ==
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=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
  
 +
{{Source|HSK Standard Course 1|106}}
 
{{Source|Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar|65-8}}
 
{{Source|Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar|65-8}}
 
{{Source|Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition|57-9}}
 
{{Source|Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition|57-9}}
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[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
 +
{{HSK|HSK1}}{{2021-HSK|HSK1}}
 
{{Basic Grammar|了|A2|Subj. + Verb + 了 + Obj.|我 吃 <em>了</em> 两 个 苹果。|grammar point|ASGAGDCQ}}
 
{{Basic Grammar|了|A2|Subj. + Verb + 了 + Obj.|我 吃 <em>了</em> 两 个 苹果。|grammar point|ASGAGDCQ}}
 
{{Similar|Expressing experiences with "guo"}}
 
{{Similar|Expressing experiences with "guo"}}
 +
{{Similar|Advanced "le" after an object}}
 +
{{Similar|Advanced "le" with complements}}
 
{{POS|Particles}}
 
{{POS|Particles}}
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{{Used for|Expressing result}}
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{{Used for|Expressing completion}}
 
{{Used for|Describing actions}}
 
{{Used for|Describing actions}}
 
{{Used for|Referring to the past}}
 
{{Used for|Referring to the past}}

Latest revision as of 09:22, 20 April 2021

Also known as: 了1, verb 了, completed action 了 and perfective aspect 了.

The particle 了 (le) has a lot of uses. One of the most common is to express the completion of an action. This is called aspect, which is not the same as tense. Tense is about when an action happens: past, present or future. With regards to 了 (le), aspect is about whether the action is complete in a certain time frame.

Most Basic Pattern

The simplest way to use 了 (le) is to just put it after a verb. When there's nothing else after the verb, there are no complications!

Structure

Subj. + Verb + 了

Examples

  • 他们 到 了 。Tāmen dào le.They have arrived.
  • 我 买 了 。Wǒ mǎi le.I've bought it.
  • 我们 都 去 了 。Wǒmen dōu qù le.We all went.
  • 我 找到 了 ！Wǒ zhǎodào le!I found it!

Putting 了 After a Verb with an Object

Here is where things start to get slightly more complicated. If the verb has an object, 了 (le) can go directly after the verb to indicate completion, but there are a few other conditions that should be met.

When Time is Specified

It's a good idea to specify the time anyway, if you're still getting used to Chinese verbs not indicating tenses by themselves. When you do this, it's generally OK to put the 了 (le) right after the verb and before the object.

Structure

Subj. + Time + Verb + 了 + Obj.

Time + Subj. + Verb + 了 + Obj.

Examples

  • 我 今天 吃 了 早饭 。Wǒ jīntiān chī le zǎofàn.This morning I ate breakfast.
  • 她 上个 月 去 了 北京 。Tā shàng gè yuè qù le Běijīng.Last month she went to Beijing.
  • 中午 我 见 了 朋友 。Zhōngwǔ wǒ jiàn le péngyou.At noon I met a friend.

When the Object's Quantity is Specified

This pattern works if the sentence includes more information about the object, such as how many there are.

Structure

Subj. + Verb + 了 + [Number + Measure Word] + Obj.

(Make sure you're clear on what a measure word is and how to use them.)

Examples

  • 老师 问 了 五 个 问题 。Lǎoshī wèn le wǔ gè wèntí.The teacher asked five questions.
  • 我 买 了 三 本 书 。Wǒ mǎi le sān běn shū.I bought three books.
  • 我 喝 了 两 杯 咖啡 。Wǒ hē le liǎng bēi kāfēi.I drank two cups of coffee.

When 了 Comes After the Object

OK, so here's the tricky part. Even when indicating completion, the 了 (le) can sometimes go after the object. This is not a topic that can be covered in depth at the elementary level, but you should be aware that this does happen too.

Structure

Subj. + Verb + Obj. + 了

Examples

  • 上个 月 我 去 台湾 了 。Shàng gè yuè wǒ qù Táiwān le.I went to Taiwan last month.
  • 昨天 晚上 我 看见 UFO 了 。 Zuótiān wǎnshang wǒ kànjiàn UFO le.I saw a UFO last night.

If you're upper intermediate-ish and think you can "handle the truth," also check out our more advanced, full exposé on 了 (le) after an object.

Putting 了 After Consecutive Actions

So what happens if a whole string of things happened in the past? Do you have to put a 了 (le) after each one, just like we'd put each verb in the past tense in English? Good question! The short answer is that you only need one 了 (le).

To keep things simple, we'll make the first action "coming" or "going" somewhere, which will be followed by another action. So we'll be using 来 (lái) or 去 (qù) plus a place in each sentence, and then another action. For this type of "consecutive action," 了 (le) should be placed after the final verb (or verb phrase), which marks the completion of the entire sequence.

Structure

Subj. + 来 / 去 + Place + Verb / [Verb Phrase] + 了

Examples

  • 昨天 她 来 我 家 吃饭 了 。Zuótiān tā lái wǒ jiā chīfàn le.She came to my place and ate dinner yesterday.
  • 我们 上周 去 北京 开会 了 。Wǒmen shàng zhōu qù Běijīng kāihuì le.We went to Beijing and had a meeting there last week.
  • 我 和 朋友 去 商场 买 衣服 了 。Wǒ hé péngyou qù shāngchǎng mǎi yīfu le.I went to the mall with my friend and bought some clothes.

Completion in the Future

了 (le) can appear in sentences about the future as well as the past. What's important is whether or not the action has been completed, no matter what time frame we're talking about. This also means that this 了 (le) isn't used with habitual or continuous actions.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Websites

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