Difference between revisions of "Expressing "not anymore" with "le""
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In a negative sentence, the [[modal particle "le"|sentence-final 了 (le)]] can take on the meaning of "(not) anymore" or "no longer." The word [[已经|已经 (yǐjīng)]], which [[Expressing "already" with "le"|means "already,"]] may nor may not accompany it. | In a negative sentence, the [[modal particle "le"|sentence-final 了 (le)]] can take on the meaning of "(not) anymore" or "no longer." The word [[已经|已经 (yǐjīng)]], which [[Expressing "already" with "le"|means "already,"]] may nor may not accompany it. | ||
| − | + | == Structure == | |
[[已经]] (yǐjīng) is optional for this pattern, but either [[不]] (bù) or [[没有]] (méiyǒu) will be needed to make the verb negative. The sentence-final [[了]] (le) is, of course, essential. | [[已经]] (yǐjīng) is optional for this pattern, but either [[不]] (bù) or [[没有]] (méiyǒu) will be needed to make the verb negative. The sentence-final [[了]] (le) is, of course, essential. | ||
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</div> | </div> | ||
| − | + | == Examples == | |
<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
Revision as of 08:51, 13 January 2017
In a negative sentence, the sentence-final 了 (le) can take on the meaning of "(not) anymore" or "no longer." The word 已经 (yǐjīng), which means "already," may nor may not accompany it.
Structure
已经 (yǐjīng) is optional for this pattern, but either 不 (bù) or 没有 (méiyǒu) will be needed to make the verb negative. The sentence-final 了 (le) is, of course, essential.
(已经 +) 不 / 没(有) + [Verb Phrase] + 了
Examples
- 没有 纸 了 。in other words, "we're out of paper" There's no paper anymore.
- 手机 没有 电 了 。 My cellphone has run out of power.
- 他 没有 家 了。 He doesn't have his home anymore.
- 我们 都 没有 钱 了 。 We all don't have any more money.
- 你 不 喜欢 我 了 吗？ You don't like me anymore?
- 我 不 想 吃 了 。 I don't want to eat anymore.
- 你们 不 能 喝 了 。 You can't drink anymore.
- 我 已经 不 住 这里 了 。 I don't live here anymore.
- 他 已经 不 在 这儿 工作 了 。 He doesn't work here anymore.
- 他们 已经 不 在 一起 了 。 They are no longer together.
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
- Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar (p. 68) →buy
- Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (pp. 126-9) →buy
- Mandarin Chinese: A Functional Reference Grammar (pp. 238-99) →buy
- New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2) (pp. 217-8) →buy
- New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3) (pp. 64-5) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed) (p. 8) →buy
- 40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课上册） (p. 239)→buy
Websites
- Chinesegrammar.info: Chinese le grammar summary (了)
