Difference between revisions of "Change of state with "le""

(Created page with "{{AKA|sentence 了|modal 了}} 了 (le) has a lot of uses. One of the most common is to indicate ''change of state''. That is, that the situation has changed; things were not th...")
 
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{{AKA|sentence 了|modal 了}}
 
{{AKA|sentence 了|modal 了}}
  
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了 (le) has a lot of uses. One of the most common is to indicate ''change of state''. That is, that the situation has changed; things were not this way before. In English, this is often expressed with "now" in positive sentences and with "any more" in negative sentences.
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了 (le) has a lot of uses. You probably first learned 了 as a particle that tells you an action is completed.  It's also known as [[了1]].  This article is not about that use of 了, it's about indicating a ''change of state''. In other words, there is now a new situation, or there is about to be a new situation. This whole "change of state" idea can take numerous forms, so it's helpful to view them individually, alongside some English translations.
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== General Change of State ==
  
 
When used in this way, 了 is placed at the end of the sentence to mark that the whole statement describes a new situation.
 
When used in this way, 了 is placed at the end of the sentence to mark that the whole statement describes a new situation.
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* 他 会 开车 了。<span class="expl">"He can ''now'' drive." (he couldn't before)</span>
 
* 他 会 开车 了。<span class="expl">"He can ''now'' drive." (he couldn't before)</span>
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* 我 不 喝酒 了。<span class="expl">"I don't drink ''any more''." (but I used to)</span>
 
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* 你 知道 了。<span class="expl">"''Now'' you know. (you didn't before)"</span>
 
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
 
So if the English translation would make sense with "now" or "any more", chances are it needs a 了 sticking on the end in Chinese.
 
So if the English translation would make sense with "now" or "any more", chances are it needs a 了 sticking on the end in Chinese.
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== Expressing "Now" ==
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<div class="liju">
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* 吃饭 了。<span class="expl">"Time to eat."</span>
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* 我 来 了。<span class="expl">"I'm coming over now. / I'm on the way"</span>
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* 我 知道 了。<span class="expl">"''Now'' I know. (I didn't before)"</span>
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</div>
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== Expressing "Already" ==
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<div class="liju">
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* 我已经告诉他了。<span class="expl">"He can ''now'' drive." (he couldn't before)</span>
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* 我吃过饭了。<span class="expl">"I don't drink ''anymore''." (but I used to)</span>
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* 你 早就 知道 了。<span class="expl">"''Now'' you know. (you didn't before)"</span>
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</div>
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== Expressing "Not Anymore" ==
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<div class="liju">
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* 他 会 开车 了。<span class="expl">"He can ''now'' drive." (he couldn't before)</span>
 +
* 我 不 喝酒 了。<span class="expl">"I don't drink ''anymore''." (but I used to)</span>
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* 你 知道 了。<span class="expl">"I knew that a long time ago."</span>
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</div>
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== Telling Someone to "Stop" Doing Something ==
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<div class="liju">
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* 你 不要 去 了。<span class="expl">"Don't go." (I hope you'll change your mind.)</span>
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* 别 烦 她 了。<span class="expl">"Stop pestering her."</span>
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* 别 问 我 了。<span class="expl">"Stop asking me."</span>
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</div>
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== Expressing "has become..." ==
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<div class="liju">
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* 他 会 开车 了。<span class="expl">"He can ''now'' drive." (he couldn't before)</span>
 +
* 我 不 喝酒 了。<span class="expl">"I don't drink ''anymore''." (but I used to)</span>
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* 你 知道 了。<span class="expl">"''Now'' you know. (you didn't before)"</span>
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</div>
  
 
== Sources and further reading ==
 
== Sources and further reading ==

Revision as of 08:32, 7 November 2011

Also known as: sentence 了 and modal 了.

了 (le) has a lot of uses. You probably first learned 了 as a particle that tells you an action is completed. It's also known as 了1. This article is not about that use of 了, it's about indicating a change of state. In other words, there is now a new situation, or there is about to be a new situation. This whole "change of state" idea can take numerous forms, so it's helpful to view them individually, alongside some English translations.

General Change of State

When used in this way, 了 is placed at the end of the sentence to mark that the whole statement describes a new situation.

Some examples:

  • 他 会 开车 了。"He can now drive." (he couldn't before)

So if the English translation would make sense with "now" or "any more", chances are it needs a 了 sticking on the end in Chinese.

Expressing "Now"

  • 吃饭 了。"Time to eat."
  • 我 来 了。"I'm coming over now. / I'm on the way"
  • 我 知道 了。"Now I know. (I didn't before)"

Expressing "Already"

  • 我已经告诉他了。"He can now drive." (he couldn't before)
  • 我吃过饭了。"I don't drink anymore." (but I used to)
  • 你 早就 知道 了。"Now you know. (you didn't before)"

Expressing "Not Anymore"

  • 他 会 开车 了。"He can now drive." (he couldn't before)
  • 我 不 喝酒 了。"I don't drink anymore." (but I used to)
  • 你 知道 了。"I knew that a long time ago."

Telling Someone to "Stop" Doing Something

  • 你 不要 去 了。"Don't go." (I hope you'll change your mind.)
  • 别 烦 她 了。"Stop pestering her."
  • 别 问 我 了。"Stop asking me."

Expressing "has become..."

  • 他 会 开车 了。"He can now drive." (he couldn't before)
  • 我 不 喝酒 了。"I don't drink anymore." (but I used to)
  • 你 知道 了。"Now you know. (you didn't before)"

Sources and further reading

Books

Websites

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