Difference between revisions of "Expressing "already" with "dou… le""

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{{Used for|Expressing attitude}}

Revision as of 07:07, 27 June 2013


"都...了" is used to express that something has already happened, similar to "已经...了". However it is used more emphatically, implying that the speaker holds some sort of attitude in relation to the event, and is not merely objectively stating the facts, as with "已经...了". The two options can actually also be combined in the pattern "都已经...了". Here the meaning is the same as "都...了".

Structure

都 + Verb/Adjective/Quantity + 了

Examples

  • 快 三十 ,还 不 结婚?You're almost going to be 30, and you still aren't married?
  • 现在 是 二 十 一 世纪 ,你 怎么 还 这么 想?It's already the 21st century. Can you believe that?
  • 九点 ,快 起床 吧!It's already nine o'clock. Get out of bed!
  • ,你 能 不 见 他?He already arrived, can't you see him?
  • ,他 怎么 还 不 回来?The food is cold already. Why haven't you come back yet?
  • 一个月没上学 , 你怎么会通过你的考试?It's already been a month that you haven't gone to class. How are you going to pass your test?

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Dictionaries

HSK4