Difference between revisions of "Expressing "already" with just "le""

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{{Grammar Box}}  
 
{{Grammar Box}}  
  
You can expect to see the word 已经 (yǐjīng) to mean "already" in Chinese, and it is followed with a [[了]] (le), but sometimes that feeling of "already" can also be expressed with 了 (le) alone.
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You understand the word [[ASGNXI27|已经 (yǐjīng)]] to mean "already" in Chinese, and it is followed with a [[了|了 (le)]]. However, sometimes, that feeling of "already" can also be expressed with 了 (le) alone if it is used in response to a preceding question or statement.
  
 
== Structure ==
 
== Structure ==
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
 +
Subj. + [Verb Phrase] + 了
 +
</div>
 +
 +
== Examples ==
  
(已经) + [Verb phrase] + 了
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When "already" is implied using this structure, it is usually (if not always) in response to a preceding question or statement. Therefore, the following examples are in dialog format.
  
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
<ul class="dialog">
 +
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 老板 呢?<span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn ne? </span><span class="trans">Where is the boss? </span></li>
 +
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span>他 走 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin">Tā zǒu <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">He has (already) left.</span></li>
 +
</ul>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== Examples ==
+
<div class="liju">
 +
<ul class="dialog">
 +
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 孩子 还在 上 大学  吗?<span class="pinyin">Háizi hái zài shàng dàxué ma? </span><span class="trans">Are your kids still in college? </span></li>
 +
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span>他们 工作 <em>了</em>。<span class="expl">This expression emphasizes that they're not students anymore, and have already entered the workforce.</span><span class="pinyin">Tāmen gōngzuò <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">They (already) work.</span></li>
 +
</ul>
 +
</div>
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
 +
<ul class="dialog">
 +
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 用 我 的 车 吧?<span class="pinyin">Yòng wǒ de chē ba? </span><span class="trans">How about using my car? </span></li>
 +
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span>谢谢,我们 有 车 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin">Xièxie, wǒmen yǒu chē <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">Thanks. We (already) have a car.</span></li>
 +
</ul>
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</div>
  
* 我 吃 饭 <em>了</em> 。 <span class="trans">I've (already) eaten.</span>
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<div class="liju">
* 我 已经 告诉 他 <em>了</em>。 <span class="trans">I've already told him.</span>
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<ul class="dialog">
* 你 已经 知道 <em>了</em><span class="trans">"You knew (that) already."</span>
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<li><span class="speaker">A:</span>你 要 不 要 告诉 他?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ yào bu yào gàosu tā? </span><span class="trans">Are you going to tell him? </span></li>
* 我 已经 做完 <em>了</em>。 <span class="trans">I already finished it.</span>
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<li><span class="speaker">B:</span>他 知道 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin">Tā zhīdào <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">He (already) knows.</span></li>
* 他 已经 走 <em>了</em>。 <span class="trans">He has already left.</span>
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</ul>
* 已经 晚 <em></em><span class="trans">It's already late.</span>
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</div>
* 我们 已经 在 飞机 上 <em>了</em>。 <span class="trans">We're on the plane already.</span>
 
* 已经 学 过 <em></em>。 <span class="expl">(The subject is unclear here.)</span><span class="trans">Already studied it.</span>
 
* 面包 已经 买 <em>了</em>。 <span class="expl">(The subject is unclear here.)</span><span class="trans">Already bought the bread.</span>
 
* 已经 给 你 <em>了</em>。 <span class="expl">(The subject is unclear here.)</span><span class="trans">Already gave it to you.</span>
 
  
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
<ul class="dialog">
 +
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span>你 应该 问 老师。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ  yīnggāi wèn lǎoshī.  </span><span class="trans">You should ask the teacher.</span></li>
 +
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span>我 问 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ wèn <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">I've (already) asked.</span></li>
 +
</ul>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
  
 +
* [[Expressing "already" with "yijing"]]
 
* [[Expressing "not anymore" with "le"]]
 
* [[Expressing "not anymore" with "le"]]
 
* [[Uses of "le"]]
 
* [[Uses of "le"]]
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=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
  
* [[Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar]] (pp. 68) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1933330899/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=1933330899 →buy]
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{{Source|Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar|68}}
* [[Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition]] (pp. 126-9) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415372615/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0415372615 →buy]
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{{Source|Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition|126-9}}
* [[Mandarin Chinese: A Functional Reference Grammar]] (pp. 238-99) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0520066103?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0520066103 →buy]
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{{Source|Mandarin Chinese: A Functional Reference Grammar|238-99}}
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2)]] (pp. 217-8) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561911297/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561911297 →buy]
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{{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2)|217-8}}
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3)]] (pp. 64-5) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/756191251X/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=756191251X →buy]
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{{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3)|64-5}}
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed)]] (p. 8) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276709/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276709 →buy]
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{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed)|8}}
*[[40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课上册)]] (p. 239)[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001FTL8D8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001FTL8D8&linkCode=as2&tag=allset-20 →buy]
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{{Source|40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课上册)|239}}
 
 
=== Websites ===
 
 
 
* Chinesegrammar.info: [http://chinesegrammar.info/particles/le-grammar-summary/ Chinese le grammar summary (了)]
 
  
{{Basic Grammar|了|A2|……了|我 已经 做完 <em>了</em>。|grammar point|ASGM055L}}
 
 
[[Category: A2 grammar points]]
 
[[Category: A2 grammar points]]
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{{HSK|HSK2}}{{2021-HSK|HSK2}}
 +
{{Basic Grammar|了|A2|Subj. + Verb Phrase + 了|你 应该 问 老师 。我 问 <em>了</em> 。|grammar point|ASGM055L}}
 +
{{Rel char|已经}}
 
{{Used for|Referring to changes of situation}}
 
{{Used for|Referring to changes of situation}}
 
{{Similar|Uses of "le"}}
 
{{Similar|Uses of "le"}}
 +
{{Similar|Expressing "already" with "yijing"}}
 +
{{Similar|Expressing "already" with "dou"}}
 +
{{Similar|"Already" with "dou…le"}}
 +
{{Translation|already}}
 
{{POS|Particles}}
 
{{POS|Particles}}

Latest revision as of 08:56, 21 April 2021

You understand the word 已经 (yǐjīng) to mean "already" in Chinese, and it is followed with a 了 (le). However, sometimes, that feeling of "already" can also be expressed with 了 (le) alone if it is used in response to a preceding question or statement.

Structure

Subj. + [Verb Phrase] + 了

Examples

When "already" is implied using this structure, it is usually (if not always) in response to a preceding question or statement. Therefore, the following examples are in dialog format.

  • A: 老板 呢?Lǎobǎn ne? Where is the boss?
  • B:他 走 Tā zǒu le.He has (already) left.
  • A: 孩子 还在 上 大学 吗?Háizi hái zài shàng dàxué ma? Are your kids still in college?
  • B:他们 工作 This expression emphasizes that they're not students anymore, and have already entered the workforce.Tāmen gōngzuò le.They (already) work.
  • A: 用 我 的 车 吧?Yòng wǒ de chē ba? How about using my car?
  • B:谢谢,我们 有 车 Xièxie, wǒmen yǒu chē le.Thanks. We (already) have a car.
  • A:你 要 不 要 告诉 他?Nǐ yào bu yào gàosu tā? Are you going to tell him?
  • B:他 知道 Tā zhīdào le.He (already) knows.
  • A:你 应该 问 老师。Nǐ yīnggāi wèn lǎoshī. You should ask the teacher.
  • B:我 问 Wǒ wèn le.I've (already) asked.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books