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" (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

Both of these basic structures are possible (and correct), even when 了 is merely 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 。 I took the class....
  • 老师 问 问题。The teacher asked questions....

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.

了 After a Verb with an Object

Verb + 了 + 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

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。When the Object's Quantity is Specified

Some examples:

  • 他 买 一辆 车 。He bought a car.
  • 妈妈 做 很多 菜 。Mom made many dishes.
  • 我们 吃 印度 菜We ate Indian food.
  • 她 穿 最漂亮 的 裙子 。She wore her most beautiful dress.

Specifying the Time, Place, Purpose, etc.

句中有时间、地点、目的、方式等状语。When Time is Specified

  • 昨天 电影 。I had dinner together with my colleagues.
  • 和 同事 一起 饭 。I had dinner together with my colleagues.
  • 我们 在 动物园 和 熊猫 照 。We took photos with pandas in the zoo.
  • 他 女朋友 为了 他 工作 。His girlfriend quit her job for him.
  • 他们 顺利 地 南极 。They arrived at the South Pole successfully.

Used as An Answer to A Question

在对话中作为答句,因为语境充分,可以成句。

  • A:你 带 电脑 吗?Did you bring your computer?
  • B: 我 带 电脑 。Yes, I've had it.

Completion in the Future

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:

Some examples:

  • 你 到 给 我 打 电话 。future actionAfter you have arrived, call me.
  • 我 下 课 去 找 你 。future actionI will go find you after I finish class.
  • 她 想 毕 业 就 结婚 。future actionShe wants to get married after she graduates.
  • 我 打算 生 孩子 就 回去 工作future actionI plan to get back to work after childbirth.

不需要“了”表完成的情况

不能和“心理动词”连用。

句中有“以前”连用。

“了”不能和“会”连用表示将来完成。

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。 我上大学了的时候,认识了我女朋友。

Putting 了 After Consecutive Actions

“了”的位置起到标志主要事件的作用。

In a list of consecutive events, the position of 了 serves to signal the purpose of the events.

  • 他 坐 高铁 去 广州 。He took the high speed train and went to Guangzhou.
  • 我 的 一个 男 同事 帮 我 搬 家 。A male coworker helped me move.
  • 老板 请 我们 吃 一 顿 大餐 。My boss invited me to eat a big dinner.
  • 他 站起来 ,走过去 ,打 他 一下 。He stood up and walked to him and hit him.

Usage of Double 了

Emphasizing "big quantity"

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”。

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.

  • 他们 生 四 个 孩子 They've had four children already.
  • 你 吃 五 个 包子 You've eaten five baozi already.
  • 她 一年 换 三 个 工作 She had three different jobs within one year.

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 completed, in the same way we might say we "did finish the work" instead of just saying we "finished the work."

  • 我 做 作业 ,你 要 检查 吗 ?I did finish my homework. Do you want to check it?
  • 不用 给 我们 盛饭 ,我们 吃 You don't need to serve rice for us. We did eat.
  • 他 问 经理 ,经理 说 行 。He did ask the manager, and he said yes.

Sources and further reading

Books

HSK5