Difference between revisions of "Advanced "le" after an object"

 
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You may have learned that 了 (le) follows immediately after a verb to indicate completion (AKA [[了1]]), and comes at the end of a sentence when it indicates a "[[Change of state with "le"|change of state]]" (AKA [[了2]]). But 了1 also frequently follows not the verb, but the object ''after'' the verb. What are the rules for this? When is it natural and when is it not? That's what this grammar point is about: bringing a bit more depth to your understanding of [[expressing completion with "le"]].
 
 
You may have learned that 了 (le) follows immediately after a verb to indicate completion (AKA [[了1]]), and comes at the end of a sentence when it indicates a "[[Change of state with "le"|change of state]]" (AKA [[了2]]). But what's the explanation for how it frequently follows not the verb, but the object after the verb? That's what this grammar point is about: bringing a bit more depth to your understanding of [[expressing completion with "le"]].
 
  
 
== Two Possible Structures ==
 
== Two Possible Structures ==
  
Both of these basic structures are possible (and correct):
+
Both of these basic structures are possible (and correct), even when 了 is ''only'' indicating completion.
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
+
Subj. + Verb + 了 + Obj.
Verb + Obj + 了
 
 
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
 +
Subj. + Verb + Obj. + 了
 +
</div>
  
Verb + + Obj
+
If it's a rather short and simple sentence, putting directly after the verb, while not technically incorrect, can make the sentence feel incomplete. For example:
  
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
<ul>
 +
<li class="q">我 上 <em>了</em> 课 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ shàng <em>le</em> kè.</span><span class="trans">I had class....</span> </li>
 +
<li class="q">老师 问 <em>了</em> 问题。<span class="pinyin">Lǎoshī wèn <em>le</em> wèntí.</span><span class="trans">The teacher asked questions....</span> </li>
 +
</ul>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
The point of this article is to determine when to use one, and when to use the other. Note that there maybe be other words and phrases slipped into the general patterns above.
+
So for these short sentences, it would be more natural to put 了 after the ''object''. So what are the rules for when to put 了 directly after the verb, and when to put it after the object? That is the point of this article.
  
==了 directly followed by an object==
+
== When Goes After the Object ==
  
===Structure===
+
So the question now is ''when'' it's OK to move the 了 to after the object. It ''often'' is. Let's look more closely at the circumstances. Unfortunately, 了 is notorious for evading nice clear rules, but we'll do our best here to provide reliable guidelines for usage.
 +
 
 +
=== Structure ===  
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
 +
Subj. + Verb + Obj. + 了
 +
</div>
 +
 +
=== When the Object is Short, Put 了 After the Object  ===
  
V.++O.
+
For these examples where the object is short, it sounds better to put 了 after the object. It's not ''wrong'' to put the after the verb, but it sounds a little strange to do so. (It may sound stranger for some examples than others, and native speakers will have varying opinions about which sound the strangest. Ask them!)
  
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
<ul>
 +
<li class="q">我 上 <em>了</em> 课 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ shàng <em>le</em> kè.</span></li>
 +
<li class="o">我 上 课 <em>了</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ shàng kè <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">I had class.</span></li>
 +
</ul>
 +
<ul>
 +
<li class="q">老师 问 <em>了</em> 问题 。<span class="pinyin">Lǎoshī wèn <em>le</em> wèntí.</span>
 +
<li class="o">老师 问 问题 <em>了</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Lǎoshī wèn wèntí <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">The teacher asked questions.</span></li>
 +
</ul>
 +
<ul>
 +
<li class="q">丽丽 到 <em>了</em> 火车站  。 <span class="pinyin">Lìlì dào <em>le</em> huǒchēzhàn.
 +
<li class="o">丽丽 到 火车站 <em>了</em>  。 <span class="pinyin">Lìlì dào huǒchēzhàn <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">Lili has arrived at the train station.</span></li>
 +
</ul>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
 +
=== When the Object is Medium-Length, Put 了 After the Verb or Object  ===
  
注:以上几个句子的宾语“早饭、新工作、iPhone”要么有限定,要么是特指。但是,动词后的宾语如果只是一个简单的宾语,句子不能自足。一般来说,宾语都要略带说明性成分(数量短语、形容词、限定性短语或者句中有说明时间、地点、原因及方式的状语)。没有的话,听起来语气就会不完整。
+
Once the object gets a bit longer, it starts to sound OK again to put the 了 immediately after the verb, but it also sounds good to put it after the (not ''too'' long) object.
 
 
If the object placed after the verb is very simple, it is typical to have something modifying the object, such as a number and measure word, an adjective, or 限定性短语, or the sentence should specify a time, place, reason, or method for the action. (If this paragraph gets included, it probably should go somewhere below)
 
 
 
=== Examples ===
 
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
 
<ul>
 
<ul>
<li class="q">我  上 <em>了</em> 。<span class="trans"> I took the class and I finished it. </span> </li>
+
<li class="o">他 提交 <em>了</em> 那些 报告 。<span class="pinyin">Tā tíjiāo <em>le</em> nàxiē bàogào.</span></li>
<li class="q">她 看 <em>了</em> 电视.<span class="trans">She watched TV. </span> </li>
+
<li class="o">他 提交 那些 报告 <em>了</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Tā tíjiāo nàxiē bàogào <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">He filed those reports.</span></li>
<li class="q"> 老师 问 <em>了</em> 问题。<span class="trans">The teacher asked questions. </span> </li>
+
</ul>
 
+
<ul>
 +
<li class="o">我 今天 见 <em>了</em> 老 朋友 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ jīntiān jiàn <em>le</em> lǎo péngyou.</span></li>
 +
<li class="o">我 今天 见 老朋友 <em>了</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ jīntiān jiàn lǎopéngyou <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">I met my old friend today.</span></li>
 
</ul>
 
</ul>
 +
<ul>
 +
<li class="o">我 发现 <em>了</em> 那个 秘密 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ fāxiàn <em>le</em> nàge mìmì.</span></li>
 +
<li class="o">我 发现 那个 秘密 <em>了</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ fāxiàn nàge mìmì <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">I discovered the secret.</span></li>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
如果句末再加一个“了”,则表示加强肯定语气,这时宾语因为是特指的,所以可能就是非常简单的。
+
=== When the Object is Long, Put After the Verb ===
 
 
If there is another placed at the end of the sentence, it can add a stronger emphasis that the action ''was'' completed, in the same way we might say we "''did'' finish the work" instead of just saying we "finished the work".
 
  
=== Examples ===
+
Once the object gets long enough, it gets awkward to put 了 at the end. The listener has to wait too long to find out if the verb already spoken has been completed or not. So save your listener the suspense; for long objects, it sounds more natural to put the 了 directly after the verb.
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
 
+
<ul>
* 我 做 <em>了</em> 作业 <em>了</em>, 你 要 看 吗?<span class="trans">I did finish my homework. Do you want to see it?</span>
+
<li class="o">他 提交 <em>了</em> 今天 所有 的 报告。<span class="pinyin">Tā tíjiāo <em>le</em> jīntiān suǒyǒu de bàogào.</span></li>
* 我们 来 这儿 以前 吃 <em>了</em> <em>了</em>。<span class="trans">We did have our dinner before we came here .</span>
+
<li class="q">他 提交 今天 所有 的 报告 <em>了</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Tā tíjiāo jīntiān suǒyǒu de bàogào <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">He has submitted all the reports for today.</span></li>
* 他 问<em>了</em> 经理 <em>了</em>, 经理 说 行。<span class="trans">He did ask the manager, and he said yes.</span>
+
</ul>
 
+
<ul>
 +
<li class="o">我 今天 见 <em>了</em> 我 二十 年 没 见 的 老 朋友。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ jīntiān jiàn <em>le</em> wǒ èrshí nián méi jiàn de lǎo péngyou.</span></li>
 +
<li class="q">我 今天 见 我 二十 年 没 见 的 老 朋友 <em>了</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ jīntiān jiàn wǒ èrshí nián méi jiàn de lǎo péngyou <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">I met my old friend today whom I haven't seen for 20 years.</span></li>
 +
</ul>
 +
<ul>
 +
<li class="o">我 听说 <em>了</em> 昨天 在 地铁站 发生 的 事情。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ tīngshuō <em>le</em> zuótiān zài dìtiězhàn fāshēng de shìqing.</span></li>
 +
<li class="q">我 听说 昨天 在 地铁站 发生的 事情 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ tīngshuō zuótiān zài dìtiězhàn fāshēng de shìqing <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">I heard about what happened yesterday at the subway station.</span></li>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
==Object with a number and measure word==
+
== 了 After a Verb with an Object ==
  
当宾语前面有数量短语修饰时,“了”一般都在紧跟在动词后面。既表示动作的完成,又表示事态有所变化。此时的宾语其实是特指的对象。
+
You may remember these from your original studies of 了 to indicate completion, but it's worth revisiting them to remind you that there are cases when you shouldn't move 了 to after the object, even when your verbs and objects are relatively short.
  
When the object is preceded by a number and measure word, the 了 is usually placed directly after the verb. It indicates the completion of the action, and shows that the object directly following it is receiving the action of the verb.
+
=== Structure ===  
 
 
===Structure===
 
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
 +
Subj. + Verb + 了 + Obj.
 +
</div>
  
V.++数量短语(名量)+O.
+
When the following conditions are met, is typically placed before the object, which completes the sentence and gives it a tone of completion.
  
</div>
+
=== Examples Specifying the Object ===
  
=== Examples ===
+
When the object has modifiers, such as an [[Expressing completion with "le"|indication of quantity]] or an adjective, it's not weird to put 了 immediately after the verb.
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
* 买 <em>了</em> 五 本 他的书。<span class="trans">I bought five of his books.</span>
+
*买 <em>了</em> <strong>一辆</strong> 车 。<span class="pinyin">Tā mǎi <em>le</em> <strong>yī liàng</strong> chē.</span><span class="trans">He bought a car.</span>
* 他们 昨天 看<em>了</em> 两 场 电影。<span class="trans"> They went to see two movies yesterday .</span>
+
*妈妈 做 <em>了</em> <strong>很 多</strong> 菜 。<span class="pinyin">Māma zuò <em>le</em> <strong>hěn duō</strong> cài.</span><span class="trans">Mom made many dishes.</span>
*他 午饭 花 <em></em> 两千多块。<span class="trans">He spent more than two thousand kuai on his lunch.</span>
+
*她 穿 <em>了</em> <strong>最 漂亮 的</strong> 裙子 。<span class="pinyin">Tā chuān <em>le</em> <strong>zuì piàoliang de</strong> qúnzi.</span><span class="trans">She wore the most beautiful dress.</span>
*你 请 <em>了</em> 几 个 朋友?<span class="trans">How many friends have you invited?</span>
 
* 老师 问 <em></em> 五 个 问题 .<span class="trans">The teacher asked five questions.</span>
 
 
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
如果在句末再加一个“了”则有两层含义:一是强调或暗示数量多;二是表示“还有可能继续”。第一个“了”常常
+
=== Examples Specifying the Time, Place, Purpose, etc. ===
  
If another 了 is added at the end of the sentence, it indicates two things. One is to emphasize or imply that the number in front of the object is already a big number, and the other is to indicate that this number could continue to grow.
+
When time, place, manner, or purpose are specified in a sentence, 了 can be used immediately after the verb [[Expressing completion with "le"|to indicate completion]].
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
* 我 给 他 打<em>了</em> 十 几 个 电话<em>了</em> 。<span class="trans">I've made more than ten phone calls to him.</span>
+
*我 <strong>昨天</strong> 看 <em>了</em> 电影 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <strong>zuótiān</strong> kàn <em>le</em> diànyǐng.</span><span class="trans">I saw a movie yesterday.</span>
* 他 帮<em>了</em> 几 十 个 农村 的 孩子 <em></em><span class="trans"> He's helped a few dozen poor kids from the rural area.</span>
+
*我 <strong>和 同事 一起</strong> 吃 <em>了</em> <span class="pinyin">Wǒ <strong>hé tóngshì yīqǐ</strong> chī <em>le</em> fàn.</span><span class="trans">I had dinner together with my colleagues.</span>
* 我 哥哥 换 <em>了</em> 三 个 女朋友 <em>了</em>。<span class="trans"> My elder brother has had three girlfriends.</span>
+
*我们 <strong>在 动物园 和 熊猫</strong> 拍 <em>了</em> 照 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <strong>zài dòngwùyuán hé xióngmāo</strong> pāi <em>le</em> zhào.</span><span class="trans">We took photos with pandas in the zoo.</span>
 +
*他 女朋友 <strong>为了 他</strong> 辞 <em>了</em> 工作 。<span class="pinyin">Tā nǚpéngyou <strong>wèile tā</strong> cí <em>le</em> gōngzuò.</span><span class="trans">His girlfriend quit her job for him.</span>
 +
*他们 <strong>顺利 地</strong> 到 <em>了</em> 南极 <span class="pinyin">Tāmen <strong>shùnlì de</strong> dào <em>le</em> Nánjí.</span><span class="trans">They arrived at the South Pole without incident.</span>
 +
</div>
  
如果宾语前既有数量短语限定,也有一般性形容词做修饰成分,则不太适用于这种情况。
+
=== Examples Involving Result Complements ===
  
If the object has both a number-measure-word pair and a general adjective associated with it, then it is not very suitable to use an extra in the emphatic way described above.
+
When the object has modifiers, such as an [[Expressing completion with "le"|indication of quantity]] or an adjective, it's not weird to put immediately after the verb.
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
 
+
*买到 <em>了</em> 票。
<ul>
+
*我 做完 <em>了</em> 工作。
<li class="x"> <em>了</em> 五本 有意思的 书 <strong>了</strong> <span class="trans">I‘ve bought five interesting books.</span></li>
+
*小明 花光 <em></em> 钱。
</ul>
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
 +
== Completion in the Future ==
  
动宾结构的动词作谓语时,需注意。如“结婚”,“结婚了”表示动作或者状态的完成;“结了婚”表示句子还没说完,还有后续的分句补充。
+
了 (le) can also indicate that one action is completed before another in the ''future'', and this type of 了 is often placed directly after a verb with an object.
 
 
A verb-object structured word, such as "看书", "吃饭", or "结婚", a phrase like "结婚了" would simply indicate that the action or state has been completed, whereas "结了婚" would, in addition, indicate that the speaker has more to say or comment on after the phrase.
 
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
 +
*你 到 <em>了</em> 家 给 我 打 电话 。<span class="expl">future action</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ dào <em>le</em> jiā gěi wǒ dǎ diànhuà.</span><span class="trans">After you have arrived home, call me.</span>
 +
*我 下 <em>了</em> 课 去 找 你 。<span class="expl">future action</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ xià <em>le</em> kè qù zhǎo nǐ.</span><span class="trans">I will go find you after I get out of class.</span>
 +
*她 想 毕 <em>了</em> 业 就 结婚 。<span class="expl">future action</span><span class="pinyin">Tā xiǎng bì <em>le</em> yè jiù jiéhūn.</span><span class="trans">She wants to get married after she graduates.</span>
 +
*我 打算 生 <em>了</em> 孩子 就 回去 <em>工作</em> 。<span class="expl">future action</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ dǎsuàn shēng <em>le</em> háizi jiù huíqù <em>gōngzuò</em>.</span><span class="trans">I plan to go back to work after having the baby.</span>
 +
</div>
  
* 我 已经 下班 <em>了</em>。<span class="trans">I‘m off work now.</span>
+
== Usage of Double 了 ==  
* 我 下 <em>了</em> 班 就 去 见 你。<span class="trans">I‘ll see you as soon as I get off work.</span>
 
* 他 去年 离婚<em></em> 。<span class="trans">He got a divorce  last year.</span>
 
*他 去年 离 <em>了</em> 婚 以后 又 找 了 一 个 女人。<span class="trans">After the divorce last year, he found another woman.</span>
 
  
</div>
+
In this case, 了 follows both the verb ''and'' the object.
  
在一连串的事件中,“了”的位置起到标志主要事件的作用。
+
=== Emphasizing "Big Quantity" ===
  
In a list of consecutive events, the position of 了 serves to signal the purpose of the events.
+
If another 了 is added at the end of the sentence, implies that the number in front of the object is ''already'' a big number, and that this number could continue to grow.
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
 +
*他们 生 <em>了</em> <strong>四 个</strong> 孩子 <em>了</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Tāmen shēng <em>le</em> <strong>sì gè</strong> háizi <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">They've had four children already.</span>
 +
*你 吃 <em>了</em> <strong>五 个</strong> 包子 <em>了</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ chī <em>le</em> <strong>wǔ gè</strong> bāozi <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">You've eaten five baozi already.</span>
 +
</div>
  
* 他 上周 帮 我 搬<em>了</em>家 。<span class="trans">He helped me move last week.</span>
+
=== Giving a Tone of Strong Confirmation ===
* 老板 请 我 吃<em>了</em> 一 顿 大餐。<span class="trans">My boss invited me to a big dinner.</span>
 
  
 +
If there is another 了 placed at the end of the sentence, it can add a ''stronger emphasis'' that the action ''was already'' completed, in the same way we might say we "''did'' finish the work" or "''already'' finished the work" instead of just saying we "finished the work."
 +
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
*我 做 <em>了</em> 作业 <em>了</em> ,你 要 检查 吗 ?<span class="pinyin">Wǒ zuò <em>le</em> zuòyè <em>le</em>, nǐ yào jiǎnchá ma?</span><span class="trans">I already finished my homework. Do you want to check it?</span>
 +
*他 问 <em>了</em> 经理 <em>了</em> ,经理 说 行 。<span class="pinyin">Tā wèn <em>le</em> jīnglǐ <em>le</em>, jīnglǐ shuō xíng.</span><span class="trans">He already asked the manager, and the manager said yes.</span>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
 +
== Sources and further reading ==
  
 +
=== Books ===
  
 +
* 赵元任.汉语口语语法[M](吕叔湘译).商务印书馆,1979
 +
* 王媛.“了”的使用机制及教学策略[J].语言教学与研究,2011(03)
 +
* 祁晓倩.“了1”和“了2”的语义相似性及对外汉语教学[J].乐山师范学院学报,2007(11)
  
== Sources and further reading ==
+
[[Category:B2 grammar points]]
 
+
{{Basic Grammar|了|B2|Verb + Obj. + 了|我 吃 <em></em> 早饭 。|grammar point|ASG4K5WH}}
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
 
{{Basic Grammar|了|B1|Verb + Obj + 了|去 上海 了|grammar point|ASG4K5WH}}
 
{{Similar|About to happen with "le"}}
 
{{Similar|Change of state with "le"}}
 
 
{{Similar|Expressing completion with "le"}}
 
{{Similar|Expressing completion with "le"}}
{{Used for|Expressing time and date}}
+
{{Similar|Advanced "le" with complements}}
{{Used for|Sequencing events in time}}
+
{{Used for|Expressing completion}}
{{Used for|Referring to changes of situation}}
+
{{Used for|Describing actions}}
{{Structure|Sentence Patterns}}
+
{{Used for|Referring to the past}}
 +
{{POS|Particles}}

Latest revision as of 09:45, 18 January 2021

You may have learned that 了 (le) follows immediately after a verb to indicate completion (AKA 了1), and comes at the end of a sentence when it indicates a "change of state" (AKA 了2). But 了1 also frequently follows not the verb, but the object after the verb. What are the rules for this? When is it natural and when is it not? That's what this grammar point is about: bringing a bit more depth to your understanding of expressing completion with "le".

Two Possible Structures

Both of these basic structures are possible (and correct), even when 了 is only indicating completion.

Subj. + Verb + 了 + Obj.

Subj. + Verb + Obj. + 了

If it's a rather short and simple sentence, putting 了 directly after the verb, while not technically incorrect, can make the sentence feel incomplete. For example:

  • 我 上 课 。Wǒ shàng le kè.I had class....
  • 老师 问 问题。Lǎoshī wèn le wèntí.The teacher asked questions....

So for these short sentences, it would be more natural to put 了 after the object. So what are the rules for when to put 了 directly after the verb, and when to put it after the object? That is the point of this article.

When 了 Goes After the Object

So the question now is when it's OK to move the 了 to after the object. It often is. Let's look more closely at the circumstances. Unfortunately, 了 is notorious for evading nice clear rules, but we'll do our best here to provide reliable guidelines for usage.

Structure

Subj. + Verb + Obj. + 了

When the Object is Short, Put 了 After the Object

For these examples where the object is short, it sounds better to put 了 after the object. It's not wrong to put the 了 after the verb, but it sounds a little strange to do so. (It may sound stranger for some examples than others, and native speakers will have varying opinions about which sound the strangest. Ask them!)

  • 我 上 课 。Wǒ shàng le kè.
  • 我 上 课 Wǒ shàng kè le.I had class.
  • 老师 问 问题 。Lǎoshī wèn le wèntí.
  • 老师 问 问题 Lǎoshī wèn wèntí le.The teacher asked questions.
  • 丽丽 到 火车站 。 Lìlì dào le huǒchēzhàn.
  • 丽丽 到 火车站 Lìlì dào huǒchēzhàn le.Lili has arrived at the train station.

When the Object is Medium-Length, Put 了 After the Verb or Object

Once the object gets a bit longer, it starts to sound OK again to put the 了 immediately after the verb, but it also sounds good to put it after the (not too long) object.

  • 他 提交 那些 报告 。Tā tíjiāo le nàxiē bàogào.
  • 他 提交 那些 报告 Tā tíjiāo nàxiē bàogào le.He filed those reports.
  • 我 今天 见 老 朋友 。Wǒ jīntiān jiàn le lǎo péngyou.
  • 我 今天 见 老朋友 Wǒ jīntiān jiàn lǎopéngyou le.I met my old friend today.
  • 我 发现 那个 秘密 。Wǒ fāxiàn le nàge mìmì.
  • 我 发现 那个 秘密 Wǒ fāxiàn nàge mìmì le.I discovered the secret.

When the Object is Long, Put 了 After the Verb

Once the object gets long enough, it gets awkward to put 了 at the end. The listener has to wait too long to find out if the verb already spoken has been completed or not. So save your listener the suspense; for long objects, it sounds more natural to put the 了 directly after the verb.

  • 他 提交 今天 所有 的 报告。Tā tíjiāo le jīntiān suǒyǒu de bàogào.
  • 他 提交 今天 所有 的 报告 Tā tíjiāo jīntiān suǒyǒu de bàogào le.He has submitted all the reports for today.
  • 我 今天 见 我 二十 年 没 见 的 老 朋友。Wǒ jīntiān jiàn le wǒ èrshí nián méi jiàn de lǎo péngyou.
  • 我 今天 见 我 二十 年 没 见 的 老 朋友 Wǒ jīntiān jiàn wǒ èrshí nián méi jiàn de lǎo péngyou le.I met my old friend today whom I haven't seen for 20 years.
  • 我 听说 昨天 在 地铁站 发生 的 事情。Wǒ tīngshuō le zuótiān zài dìtiězhàn fāshēng de shìqing.
  • 我 听说 昨天 在 地铁站 发生的 事情 Wǒ tīngshuō zuótiān zài dìtiězhàn fāshēng de shìqing le.I heard about what happened yesterday at the subway station.

了 After a Verb with an Object

You may remember these from your original studies of 了 to indicate completion, but it's worth revisiting them to remind you that there are cases when you shouldn't move 了 to after the object, even when your verbs and objects are relatively short.

Structure

Subj. + Verb + 了 + Obj.

When the following conditions are met, 了 is typically placed before the object, which completes the sentence and gives it a tone of completion.

Examples Specifying the Object

When the object has modifiers, such as an indication of quantity or an adjective, it's not weird to put 了 immediately after the verb.

  • 他 买 一辆 车 。Tā mǎi le yī liàng chē.He bought a car.
  • 妈妈 做 很 多 菜 。Māma zuò le hěn duō cài.Mom made many dishes.
  • 她 穿 最 漂亮 的 裙子 。Tā chuān le zuì piàoliang de qúnzi.She wore the most beautiful dress.

Examples Specifying the Time, Place, Purpose, etc.

When time, place, manner, or purpose are specified in a sentence, 了 can be used immediately after the verb to indicate completion.

  • 昨天 电影 。zuótiān kàn le diànyǐng.I saw a movie yesterday.
  • 和 同事 一起 饭 。hé tóngshì yīqǐ chī le fàn.I had dinner together with my colleagues.
  • 我们 在 动物园 和 熊猫 照 。Wǒmen zài dòngwùyuán hé xióngmāo pāi le zhào.We took photos with pandas in the zoo.
  • 他 女朋友 为了 他 工作 。Tā nǚpéngyou wèile tāle gōngzuò.His girlfriend quit her job for him.
  • 他们 顺利 地 南极 。Tāmen shùnlì de dào le Nánjí.They arrived at the South Pole without incident.

Examples Involving Result Complements

When the object has modifiers, such as an indication of quantity or an adjective, it's not weird to put 了 immediately after the verb.

  • 我 买到 票。
  • 我 做完 工作。
  • 小明 花光 钱。

Completion in the Future

了 (le) can also indicate that one action is completed before another in the future, and this type of 了 is often placed directly after a verb with an object.

  • 你 到 家 给 我 打 电话 。future actionNǐ dào le jiā gěi wǒ dǎ diànhuà.After you have arrived home, call me.
  • 我 下 课 去 找 你 。future actionWǒ xià le kè qù zhǎo nǐ.I will go find you after I get out of class.
  • 她 想 毕 业 就 结婚 。future actionTā xiǎng bì le yè jiù jiéhūn.She wants to get married after she graduates.
  • 我 打算 生 孩子 就 回去 工作future actionWǒ dǎsuàn shēng le háizi jiù huíqù gōngzuò.I plan to go back to work after having the baby.

Usage of Double 了

In this case, 了 follows both the verb and the object.

Emphasizing "Big Quantity"

If another 了 is added at the end of the sentence, implies that the number in front of the object is already a big number, and that this number could continue to grow.

  • 他们 生 四 个 孩子 Tāmen shēng le sì gè háizi le.They've had four children already.
  • 你 吃 五 个 包子 Nǐ chī le wǔ gè bāozi le.You've eaten five baozi already.

Giving a Tone of Strong Confirmation

If there is another 了 placed at the end of the sentence, it can add a stronger emphasis that the action was already completed, in the same way we might say we "did finish the work" or "already finished the work" instead of just saying we "finished the work."

  • 我 做 作业 ,你 要 检查 吗 ?Wǒ zuò le zuòyè le, nǐ yào jiǎnchá ma?I already finished my homework. Do you want to check it?
  • 他 问 经理 ,经理 说 行 。Tā wèn le jīnglǐ le, jīnglǐ shuō xíng.He already asked the manager, and the manager said yes.

Sources and further reading

Books

  • 赵元任.汉语口语语法[M](吕叔湘译).商务印书馆,1979
  • 王媛.“了”的使用机制及教学策略[J].语言教学与研究,2011(03)
  • 祁晓倩.“了1”和“了2”的语义相似性及对外汉语教学[J].乐山师范学院学报,2007(11)
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