Difference between revisions of "Change of state with "le""
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了 (le) has many uses. You probably first learned 了 (le) as a [[particle]] that tells you [[expressing completion with "le"|an action is completed]], which is also known as "了1." However, this article is not about that use of 了 (le); instead, it is about indicating a ''change of state'' (了2). 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, and this page includes some helpful examples. | 了 (le) has many uses. You probably first learned 了 (le) as a [[particle]] that tells you [[expressing completion with "le"|an action is completed]], which is also known as "了1." However, this article is not about that use of 了 (le); instead, it is about indicating a ''change of state'' (了2). 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, and this page includes some helpful examples. | ||
| − | == Structure == | + | === Structure === |
When used in this way, 了(le) is placed at the end of the sentence to show that the whole statement describes a new situation. | When used in this way, 了(le) is placed at the end of the sentence to show that the whole statement describes a new situation. | ||
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</div> | </div> | ||
| − | == Examples == | + | === Examples === |
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
Revision as of 06:55, 3 July 2015
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Level
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Similar to
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Used for
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Keywords
- Also known as: 了2, change-of-state 了, sentence 了 and modal 了.
了 (le) has many uses. You probably first learned 了 (le) as a particle that tells you an action is completed, which is also known as "了1." However, this article is not about that use of 了 (le); instead, it is about indicating a change of state (了2). 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, and this page includes some helpful examples.
Structure
When used in this way, 了(le) is placed at the end of the sentence to show that the whole statement describes a new situation.
[New Situation] + 了
Examples
- 我 会 说 中文 了。 (I couldn't before)I can speak Chinese.
- 我 有 女朋友 了。 (I didn't have one before)I have a girlfriend.
- 我 想 妈妈 了 。 (I didn't before now)I miss my mom.
- 我 25 岁 了。 I'm 25 years old.
- 我 明白 了。I understand.
- 我 有 钱 了。I have money.
- 他 笑 了。He's laughing.
- 没 有 水 了。We don't have any water.
- 下 雨 了。It's raining.
- 你 胖 了。You are fat.
See also
- Expressing "now" with "le"
- Expressing "already" with "le"
- Expressing "not anymore" with "le"
- Uses of "le"
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
- East Asia Student: 了 grammar: four kinds of 了 in Mandarin
- Chinesegrammar.info: Chinese le grammar summary (了)
