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

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== Expressing "Already" ==
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{{Grammar Box}}
  
You can expect to see the word 已经 (meaning "already") in these sentences, which frequently pairs up with 了, but note that sometimes that feeling of "already" can also be expressed with 了 alone.
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You understand the word [[ASGNXI27|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.
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== Structure ==
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<div class="jiegou">
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Subj. + [Verb Phrase] + 了
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</div>
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== Examples ==
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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 dialog format.
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
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<ul class="dialog">
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<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 老板 呢?<span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn ne? </span><span class="trans">Where is the boss? </span></li>
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<li><span class="speaker">B:</span>他 走 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin">Tā zǒu <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">He has (already) left.</span></li>
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</ul>
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</div>
  
* 我 已经 告诉 他 <em></em><span class="expl">"I already told him."</span>
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<div class="liju">
* 我 吃 饭 <em></em> <span class="expl">"I've (already) eaten."</span>
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<ul class="dialog">
* 你 已经 知道 <em></em><span class="expl">"You knew (that) a long time ago."</span>
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<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>
* 我 已经 做完 <em>了</em>。
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<li><span class="speaker">B:</span>他们 工作 <em>了</em>。<span class="expl">This expression emphasizes that they're not students anymore, and have already entered the workforce.</span><span class="pinyin">Tāmen gōngzuò <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">They (already) work.</span></li>
* 他 已经 走 <em></em>
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</ul>
* 已经 晚 <em></em>
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</div>
* 我们 已经 在 飞机 上 <em></em>
 
* 已经 学 过 <em></em>
 
* 面包 已经 买 <em></em>
 
* 已经 给 你 <em>了</em>
 
  
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<div class="liju">
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<ul class="dialog">
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<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 用 我 的 车 吧?<span class="pinyin">Yòng wǒ de chē ba? </span><span class="trans">How about using my car? </span></li>
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<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>
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</ul>
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</div>
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<div class="liju">
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<ul class="dialog">
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<li><span class="speaker">A:</span>你 要 不 要 告诉 他?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ yào bu yào gàosu tā? </span><span class="trans">Are you going to 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) knows.</span></li>
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</ul>
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</div>
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<div class="liju">
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<ul class="dialog">
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<li><span class="speaker">A:</span>你 应该 问 老师。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ  yīnggāi wèn lǎoshī.  </span><span class="trans">You should ask the teacher.</span></li>
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<li><span class="speaker">B:</span>我 问 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ wèn <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">I've (already) asked.</span></li>
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</ul>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
  
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* [[Expressing "already" with "yijing"]]
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* [[Expressing "not anymore" with "le"]]
 
* [[Uses of "le"]]
 
* [[Uses of "le"]]
  
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=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
  
* [[Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar]] (pp. 68) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1933330899/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=1933330899 →buy]
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{{Source|Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar|68}}
* [[Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition]] (pp. 126-9) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415372615/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0415372615 →buy]
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{{Source|Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition|126-9}}
* [[Mandarin Chinese: A Functional Reference Grammar]] (pp. 238-99) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0520066103?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0520066103 →buy]
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{{Source|Mandarin Chinese: A Functional Reference Grammar|238-99}}
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2)]] (pp. 217-8) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561911297/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561911297 →buy]
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{{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2)|217-8}}
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3)]] (pp. 64-5) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/756191251X/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=756191251X →buy]
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{{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3)|64-5}}
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed)]] (p. 8) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276709/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276709 →buy]
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{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed)|8}}
*[[40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课上册)]] (p. 239)[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001FTL8D8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001FTL8D8&linkCode=as2&tag=allset-20 →buy]
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{{Source|40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课上册)|239}}
 
 
=== Websites ===
 
 
 
* Chinesegrammar.info: [http://chinesegrammar.info/particles/le-grammar-summary/ Chinese le grammar summary (了)]
 
  
{{Basic Grammar|了|A2|……了|我 已经 做完 <em>了</em>。|grammar point|NEEDCODE}}
 
 
[[Category: A2 grammar points]]
 
[[Category: A2 grammar points]]
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{{HSK|HSK2}}{{2021-HSK|HSK2}}
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{{Basic Grammar|了|A2|Subj. + Verb Phrase + 了|你 应该 问 老师 。我 问 <em>了</em> 。|grammar point|ASGM055L}}
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{{Rel char|已经}}
 
{{Used for|Referring to changes of situation}}
 
{{Used for|Referring to changes of situation}}
 
{{Similar|Uses of "le"}}
 
{{Similar|Uses of "le"}}
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{{Similar|Expressing "already" with "yijing"}}
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{{Similar|Expressing "already" with "dou"}}
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{{Similar|"Already" with "dou…le"}}
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{{Translation|already}}
 
{{POS|Particles}}
 
{{POS|Particles}}

Latest revision as of 08:56, 21 April 2021

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

Subj. + [Verb Phrase] + 了

Examples

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 dialog format.

  • A: 老板 呢?Lǎobǎn ne? Where is the boss?
  • B:他 走 Tā zǒu le.He has (already) left.
  • A: 孩子 还在 上 大学 吗?Háizi hái zài shàng dàxué ma? Are your kids still in college?
  • B:他们 工作 This expression emphasizes that they're not students anymore, and have already entered the workforce.Tāmen gōngzuò le.They (already) work.
  • A: 用 我 的 车 吧?Yòng wǒ de chē ba? How about using my car?
  • B:谢谢,我们 有 车 Xièxie, wǒmen yǒu chē le.Thanks. We (already) have a car.
  • A:你 要 不 要 告诉 他?Nǐ yào bu yào gàosu tā? Are you going to tell him?
  • B:他 知道 Tā zhīdào le.He (already) knows.
  • A:你 应该 问 老师。Nǐ yīnggāi wèn lǎoshī. You should ask the teacher.
  • B:我 问 Wǒ wèn le.I've (already) asked.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books