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

Line 52: Line 52:
 
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 你 的 书 呢?<span class="pinyin"> Nǐ de shū ne?</span><span class="trans"> Where are your books? </span></li>
 
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 你 的 书 呢?<span class="pinyin"> Nǐ de shū ne?</span><span class="trans"> Where are your books? </span></li>
 
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span> 放 包里 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin"> Fàng bāo lǐ <em> le </em>.</span><span class="trans">I (already) put them in my bags .</span></li>
 
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span> 放 包里 <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin"> Fàng bāo lǐ <em> le </em>.</span><span class="trans">I (already) put them in my bags .</span></li>
 +
</ul>
 +
</div>
 +
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
<ul class="dialog">
 +
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 我们 买 什么 给 她 呢?<span class="pinyin"> Wǒmen mǎi shénme gěi tā ne? </span><span class="trans"> What should we buy  for her ?</span></li>
 +
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span> 他 说 <em>了</em> 她 什么 都 不要。<span class="pinyin"> Tā shuō <em> le </em> tā shénme dōu bú yào .</span><span class="trans">She (already) said that she doesn't want anything .</span></li>
 
</ul>
 
</ul>
 
</div>
 
</div>

Revision as of 02:12, 1 July 2015

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.

Structure

[Verb phrase] + 了

Examples

  • A: 老板 呢? Lǎobǎn ne ? Where is the boss ?
  • B: Zǒu le .He (already) left.
  • A: 孩子 还在 上 大学 吗? Háizi hái zài shàng dàxué ma ?Are your kids still in college ?
  • B: 毕业 Bìyè le .He (already) graduated.
  • A: 用 我 的 车 吧? Yòng wǒ de chě ba ?How about using my car ?
  • B: 我们 有 车 Xièxie, wǒmen yǒu chē le .Thanks.We (already) had a car.
  • A: 你 要 不 要 告诉 他? Nǐ bú yào gàosù tā ? Will you tell him ?
  • B: 他 知道 Tā zhīdào le .He (already) knew .
  • A: 你 应该 去 问 老师。 Nǐ yīnggāi qù wèn lǎoshī . You should go ask the teacher.
  • B: 我 问 Wǒ wèn le .I (already) did .
  • A: 你 的 书 呢? Nǐ de shū ne? Where are your books?
  • B: 放 包里 Fàng bāo lǐ le .I (already) put them in my bags .
  • A: 我们 买 什么 给 她 呢? Wǒmen mǎi shénme gěi tā ne? What should we buy for her ?
  • B: 他 说 她 什么 都 不要。 Tā shuō le tā shénme dōu bú yào .She (already) said that she doesn't want anything .

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Websites