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), even when 了 is merely indicating completion.  
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Both of these basic structures are possible (and correct), even when 了 is ''only'' indicating completion.  
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
Line 20: Line 18:
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
 
<ul>
 
<ul>
<li class="q">我 上 <em>了</em> 课 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ shàng <em>le</em> kè.</span><span class="trans"> I took the class....</span> </li>
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<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>
 
<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>
 
</ul>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
So what are the rules for when to put 了 directly after verb, and when to put it after the object? That is the point of this article.
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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 After a Verb with an Object ==
+
== When Goes After the Object ==
Verb + 了 + Obj.
 
  
The tone of the sentence above is not sufficient, but when the following conditions are met, “了” is typically placed before the object, which completes the sentence and gives it an accomplished tone.
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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, is notorious for evading nice clear rules, but we'll do our best here to provide reliable guidelines for usage.
Verb + + Obj.语气上往往不能自足,但满足以下几种条件时,“了”通常在宾语前,句子的语气才完整。
 
  
=== Specifying the Object ===  
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=== Structure ===  
  
 +
<div class="jiegou">
 +
Subj. + Verb + Obj. + 了
 +
</div>
  
宾语有修饰限定的成分,如数量短语、形容词,或者宾语本身即专有名词。[[Expressing completion with "le"|When the Object's Quantity is Specified]]
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=== When the Object is Short, Put 了 After the Object  ===
  
Some examples:
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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!)
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
 
+
<ul>
*他 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>
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<li class="q">我 上 <em>了</em> 课 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ shàng <em>le</em> kè.</span></li>
*妈妈 做 <em></em> <strong>很多</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Māmā zuò <em>le</em> <strong>hěn duō</strong> cài.</span><span class="trans">Mom made many dishes.</span>
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<li class="o">我 上 课 <em></em> <span class="pinyin">Wǒ shàng kè <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">I had class.</span></li>
*我们 吃 <em>了</em> <strong>印度 菜</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen chī <em>le</em> <strong>Yìndù</strong> cài.</span><span class="trans">We ate Indian food.</span>
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</ul>
*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 her most beautiful dress.</span>
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<ul>
 
+
<li class="q">老师 问 <em></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></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>
  
=== Specifying the Time, Place, Purpose, etc. ===
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=== When the Object is Medium-Length, Put 了 After the Verb or Object  ===  
  
When time, place, and purpose are specified in a sentence, 了 can be used to indicate completion. 句中有时间、地点、目的、方式等状语。[[Expressing completion with "le"|When Time is Specified]]
+
Once the object gets a bit longer, it starts to sound OK again to put the immediately after the verb, but it also sounds good to put it after the (not ''too'' long) object.
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
 
+
<ul>
*我 <strong>昨天</strong> <em>了</em> 电影 。<span class="pinyin"><strong>zuótiān</strong> kàn <em>le</em> diànyǐng.</span><span class="trans">I saw a movie yesterday.</span>
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<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>
*我 <strong>和 同事 一起</strong> <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>
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<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>
*我们 <strong>在 动物园 和 熊猫</strong> 拍 <em>了</em> 。<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>
+
</ul>
*他 女朋友 <strong>为了 他</strong> <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>
+
<ul>
*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 successfully.</span>
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<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>
 +
<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>
  
=== Used as An Answer to A Question ===
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=== When the Object is Long, Put 了 After the Verb ===
  
In a conversation, 了 can be used to respond or answer. Within context, it can create a sufficient reply.
+
Once the object gets long enough, it gets awkward to put 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.
在对话中作为答句,因为语境充分,可以成句。
 
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
 
+
<ul>
<ul class="dialog">
+
<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>
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span>你 带 电脑 <em>了</em> 吗?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ dài diànnǎo <em>le</em> ma?
+
<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>
</span><span class="trans">Did you bring your computer?</span></li>
+
</ul>
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span> 我 <em>了</em> 电脑 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ dài <em>le</em> diànnǎo.</span><span class="trans">Yes, I've had it.</span></li>
+
<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>
 
+
<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>
  
== Completion in the Future ==
+
== 了 After a Verb with an Object ==
  
In this case , 了 is often placed after a Verb with an Object. To illustrate that 了 (le) can also indicate that one action is completed before another in the ''future'', see the following examples:
+
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 to after the object, even when your verbs and objects are relatively short.
  
Some examples:
+
=== Structure ===  
 
 
<div class="liju">
 
 
 
*你 到 <em>了</em> 给 我 打 电话 。<span class="expl">future action</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ dào <em>le</em> gěi wǒ dǎ diànhuà.</span><span class="trans">After you have arrived, 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 finish 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 get back to work after childbirth.</span>
 
  
 +
<div class="jiegou">
 +
Subj. + Verb + 了 + Obj.
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== Do Not Need “了” to Indicate Completion of an Action or Situation 不需要“了”表完成的情况 ==
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When the following conditions are met, 了 is typically placed before the object, which completes the sentence and gives it a tone of completion.
  
Cannot use together with a psychological verb.
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=== Examples Specifying the Object ===
不能和“心理动词”连用。
 
  
Can be used together in the middle of a sentence with “以前”.
+
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.
句中有“以前”连用。
 
  
“了” cannot be used together with “会” to indicate future completion of an action.
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<div class="liju">
“了”不能和“会”连用表示将来完成。
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*他 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>
 +
*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>
 +
*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>
 +
</div>
  
When a verb is just an attributive of an adverbial attributive of a specific or certain time, “了” is generally not added.
+
=== Examples Specifying the Time, Place, Purpose, etc. ===
动词只是做某个时间状语的定语时,一般不加“了”。
 
  
我刚来了中国的时候,不会说中文。
+
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]].
我上大学了的时候,认识了我女朋友。
 
  
== Putting After Consecutive Actions ==
+
<div class="liju">
 +
*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>
 +
*我 <strong>和 同事 一起</strong> 吃 <em>了</em> 饭 。<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></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>
  
“了”的位置起到标志主要事件的作用。
+
=== Examples Involving Result Complements ===
  
In a list of consecutive events, the position of serves to signal the purpose of the events.
+
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">
 +
*我 买到 <em>了</em> 票。
 +
*我 做完 <em>了</em> 工作。
 +
*小明 花光 <em>了</em> 钱。
 +
</div>
  
*他 坐 高铁 去 <em>了</em> 广州 。<span class="pinyin">Tā zuò gāotiě qù le Guǎngzhōu.</span><span class="trans">He took the high speed train and went to Guangzhou.</span>
+
== Completion in the Future ==
*我 的 一个 男 同事 帮 我 搬 <em>了</em> 家 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ de yī gè nán tóngshì bāng wǒ bān <em>le</em> jiā.</span><span class="trans">A male coworker helped me move.</span>
 
*老板 请 我们 吃 <em>了</em> 一 顿 大餐 。<span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn qǐng wǒmen chī <em>le</em> yī dùn dà cān.</span><span class="trans">My boss invited me to eat a big dinner.</span>
 
*他 站起来 ,走过去 ,打 <em>了</em> 他 一下 。<span class="pinyin">Tā zhàn qǐlái, zǒu guòqù, dǎ <em>le</em> tā yīxià.</span><span class="trans">He stood up and walked to him and hit him.</span>
 
  
 +
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.
 +
 +
<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>
 
</div>
  
 
== Usage of Double 了 ==  
 
== Usage of Double 了 ==  
  
=== Emphasizing "big quantity" ===
+
In this case, 了 follows both the verb ''and'' the object.
  
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”。
+
=== Emphasizing "Big Quantity" ===
  
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.
+
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>
 
*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> bāozile.</span><span class="trans">You've eaten five baozi 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>
*她 一年 换 <em>了</em> <strong>三 个</strong> 工作 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin">Tā yī nián huàn <em>le</em> sān <strong>gè</strong> gōngzuò <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">She had three different jobs within one year.</span>
 
 
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
=== Giving a tone of strong confirmation ===  
+
=== Giving a Tone of Strong Confirmation ===  
  
如果句末再加一个“了”,表示加强肯定语气,因为语气充足,允许宾语极其简单。
+
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."
 
 
If there is another 了 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."
 
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<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>
*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 did finish 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>
*不用 给 我们 盛饭 ,我们 吃 <em>了</em> 饭 <em>了</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Bùyòng gěi wǒmen chéng fàn, wǒmen chī <em>le</em> fàn <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">You don't need to  serve rice for us. We did eat.</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 did ask the manager, and he said yes.</span>
 
 
 
 
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=== Books ===
 
=== 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)
  
 
[[Category:B2 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:B2 grammar points]]

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)
HSK5