Difference between revisions of "Uses of "le""

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The Chinese particle 了 has been traditionally divided into two broad categories: '''[[aspectual particle "le"|aspectual particle 了]]''' (AKA 了1) and '''[[modal particle "le"|modal particle 了]]''' (AKA 了2).  However, for a word with as many varied grammatical uses, such broad classifications don't seem particularly helpful to learners.  This article offers an alternative way to understand 了: by listing out specific uses and patterns without regard for traditional classifications, starting with the ones learners will want to learn right away, and moving into more and more complicated uses.\r\n== Beginner (A1) Uses of 了 ==\r\n{| class="wikitable" style="width:50em; text-align:left"
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The Chinese particle 了 has been traditionally divided into two broad categories: '''[[aspectual particle "le"|aspectual particle 了]]''' (AKA 了1) and '''[[modal particle "le"|modal particle 了]]''' (AKA 了2).  However, for a word with as many varied grammatical uses, such broad classifications don't seem particularly helpful to learners.  This article offers an alternative way to understand 了: by listing out specific uses and patterns without regard for traditional classifications, starting with the ones learners will want to learn right away, and moving into more and more complicated uses.
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== Beginner (A1) Uses of 了 ==
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{| class="wikitable" style="width:50em; text-align:left"
 
|-
 
|-
 
! Grammar Point (English) !! Pattern !! Examples!! 了 Type  
 
! Grammar Point (English) !! Pattern !! Examples!! 了 Type  
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|[[ASG8HVFN|Expressing "excessively" with "tai"]] || 太 + Adj + 了 || <span class="liju"><em>太</em> 好 <em>了</em> ! </span> || 了2
 
|[[ASG8HVFN|Expressing "excessively" with "tai"]] || 太 + Adj + 了 || <span class="liju"><em>太</em> 好 <em>了</em> ! </span> || 了2
 
|-
 
|-
|}\r\n== Elementary (A2) Uses of 了 ==\r\n{| class="wikitable" style="width:50em; text-align:left"
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|}
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== Elementary (A2) Uses of 了 ==
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{| class="wikitable" style="width:50em; text-align:left"
 
|-
 
|-
 
! Grammar Point (English) !! Pattern !! Examples!! 了 Type  
 
! Grammar Point (English) !! Pattern !! Examples!! 了 Type  
 
|-
 
|-
|[[ASGTSWBR|Expressing completion with "le"]] || V + 了 || <span class="liju">她 去 <em>了</em> 北京。</span> || 了1
+
|[[ASGTSWBR|Expressing completion with "le"]] || Verb + 了 || <span class="liju">她 去 <em>了</em> 北京 。</span> || 了1
 
|-
 
|-
|[[ASGYKDNF|Questions with "le ma"]] || V + 了 + 吗? || <span class="liju">北京 去 <em>了 吗</em>?</span> || 了1
+
|[[ASGYKDNF|Questions with "le ma"]] ||Verb + 了 + 吗 ?||<span class="liju">你 吃饭 <em>了 吗</em> ?</span> || 了1
 
|-
 
|-
|[[The "zui" superlative|Making adjectives extreme with "zui"]] || + Adj (+ 了) || <span class="liju">这 种 啤酒 <em>最 好 了</em>。</span> || 了2
+
|[[ASGP69JD|Using "guo" with "le"]] ||Verb + + 了||<span class="liju">我们 看 <em>了</em> 。</span> || 了1
 
|-
 
|-
|[[ASGJ36VN|Expressing duration]] || Verb + 了 + [Duration] || <span class="liju">他 在 北京 住 了<em> 两 年</em>。</span> || 了2
+
|[[ASGM055L|Expressing "already" with just "le"]] ||Subj. + Verb + 了|| <span class="liju">我们 都 知道 <em></em> 。</span> || 了2
 
|-
 
|-
|[[ASGSVF28|Expressing duration of inaction]] || [Duration] + 没 + [Verb Phrase] ) (+ 了) || <span class="liju">他 已经 <em>三 天 没</em> 洗澡 了。</span> || 了2
+
|[[ASGNQUC1|Result complement "-wan" for finishing]] ||Subj. + Verb + 完 + 了|| <span class="liju">我 说 完 <em>了</em> 。</span> || 了2
|-\r\n|}\r\n== Intermediate (B1) Uses of 了 ==\r\n{| class="wikitable" style="width:50em; text-align:left"
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|-
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|[[ASGT185D|Expressing change of state with "le"]] ||[New Situation] + 了|| <span class="liju">今天 我 25 岁 <em>了</em>。</span> || 了2
 +
|-
 +
|[[ASGE5Q4|Expressing "now" with "le"]] ||[New Situation] + 了||<span class="liju">电影 开始 <em>了</em> !</span> || 了2
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|-
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|[[ASGJ36VN|Expressing duration]] ||Verb + 了 + Duration ||<span class="liju">他 在 北京 住 了<em> 两 年</em> 。</span> || 了2
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|-
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|[[ASG69RR8|Expressing duration (ongoing)]] ||Verb + 了 + Duration + 了||<span class="liju">他 在 北京 住 了<em> 两 年 了</em>。</span> || 了2
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|-
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|[[ASGNXI278|Expressing "already" with "yijing"]] || 已经 + Verb + 了|| <span class="liju">他 <em>已经</em> 走 <em>了</em> 。</span> || 了2
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|-
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|[[ASGNGEU8|Expressing "about to happen" with "le"]] ||快 + Verb / Adj. + 了|| <span class="liju"><em>快</em> 下雨 <em>了</em> 。</span> || 了2
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|-
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|[[ASGFR96B|Expressing "not anymore" with "le"]] ||(已经 +) 不 / (有) + [Verb Phrase] + 了|| <span class="liju">我 <em>不</em> 想 吃 <em>了</em> 。</span> || 了2
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|-
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|[[Expressing "stop doing" with "bie… le"]] ||别 + Verb + 了|| <span class="liju"><em>别</em> 玩 <em>了</em> ,去 写 作业 。</span> || 了2
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|-
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|[[ASG3544U|Superlative "zui"]] ||最 + Adj. + 了|| <span class="liju">四川 菜 <em></em> 辣 <strong>了</strong> 。</span> || 了2
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|-
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|[[ASGLEVUV|Negative adjectives with "-si le"]] ||Adj. + 死了|| <span class="liju">我 今天 累 <em>死了</em> 。|| 了2
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|-
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|}
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== Intermediate (B1) Uses of 了 ==
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{| class="wikitable" style="width:50em; text-align:left"
 
|-
 
|-
 
! Grammar Point (English) !! Pattern !! Examples!! 了 Type  
 
! Grammar Point (English) !! Pattern !! Examples!! 了 Type  
 
|-
 
|-
|[[ASGLEVUV|Making negative adjectives extreme with "-si le"]] || Adj + 死了 || <span class="liju">那 个 孩子 难 看 <em>了</em>。</span> || 了2
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|[[ASGLEVUV|Making negative adjectives extreme with "-si le"]] || Adj. + 死了|| <span class="liju">这 件 衣服 难看 <em>死了</em> 。</span> || 了2
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|-
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|[[ASGVME5V|Making positive adjectives extreme with "-ji le"]] || Adj. + 极了|| <span class="liju">你的 中文 好 <em>极了</em> 。</span> || 了2
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|-
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|[[ASG6KUS5|Expressing "much more" in comparisons]] ||Noun 1 + 比 + Noun 2 + Adj. + 多了|| <span class="liju">我 <em>比</em> 你 高 <em>多 了</em> 。</span> || 了2
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|-
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|[[ASGSVF28|Expressing duration of inaction]] || (已经 +) Duration + 没 + Verb + 了|| <span class="liju">他 已经 <em>三 天 没</em> 洗澡 <strong>了</strong> 。</span> || 了2
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|-
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|[[ASG9B210|Expressing "about to" with "jiuyao"]] ||Subj. + 就要 + Verb + 了|| <span class="liju">他们 <em>就要</em> 结婚 <strong>了</strong> 。</span> || 了2
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|-
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|[[ASGN1JR5|Expressing "again" in the past with "you"]] ||又 + Verb + 了|| <span class="liju">你 <em>又</em> 迟到 <strong>了</strong> 。</span> || 了2
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|-
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|[[ASGT1CIR|Expressing "already" with "dou"]] ||都 + Time + 了|| <span class="liju"><em>都</em> 九点 <strong>了</strong> ,快点 起床 !</span> || 了2
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|-
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|[[ASGKITRZ|Expressing earliness with "jiu"]] ||Subj. + Time + 就 + Verb + 了|| <span class="liju">我 昨晚 八 点 半 <em>就</em> 睡觉 <strong>了</strong> 。</span> || 了2
 
|-
 
|-
|[[ASGVME5V|Making positive adjectives extreme with "-ji le"]] || Adj + 极了 || <span class="liju">你的 中文 好 <em>极了</em>。</span> || 了2
+
|[[ASG700A5|Expressing "finally" with "zhongyu"]] ||Subj. + 终于 + Predicate + 了|| <span class="liju"><em>终于</em> 到 <strong>了</strong> 。</span> || 了2
 
|-
 
|-
|[[ASG6KUS5|Expressing "much more" in comparisons]] || N1 + 比 + N2 + Adj + 多了 || <span class="liju"><em></em> 你 高 <em>了</em>。</span> || 了2
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|[[ASG7UE4H|Expressing "more and more" with "yuelaiyue"]] ||Subj. + 越来越 + Adj. + || <span class="liju">天气 <em>越来越</em> <strong>了</strong> 。</span> || 了2
 
|-
 
|-
|[[ASGT185D|Expressing change of state with "le"]] || ……了 || <span class="liju">今天 我 25 岁 <em></em>。你的 衣服 脏 <em>了</em>。</span> || 了2
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|[[ASG06EA|Expressing "all at once" with "yixiazi"]] ||Subj. + 一下子 + Predicate + 了|| <span class="liju">天气 <em>一下子</em> 变 冷 <strong>了</strong> 。</span> || 了2
 
|-
 
|-
|}\r\n== Upper Intermediate (B2) Uses of 了 ==\r\n{| class="wikitable" style="width:50em; text-align:left"
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|}
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== Upper Intermediate (B2) Uses of 了 ==
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 +
{| class="wikitable" style="width:50em; text-align:left"
 
|-
 
|-
 
! Grammar Point (English) !! Pattern !! Examples!! 了 Type  
 
! Grammar Point (English) !! Pattern !! Examples!! 了 Type  
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|[[Expressing "A bit too"]] || Adj + 了一点(儿) || <span class="liju">这个 东西 的 质量 是 <em>差 了 一点</em> 。</span> || 了2
 
|[[Expressing "A bit too"]] || Adj + 了一点(儿) || <span class="liju">这个 东西 的 质量 是 <em>差 了 一点</em> 。</span> || 了2
 
|-
 
|-
|[[Sentence-Final "le 1+2"]] || ……了 || <span class="liju">我 明白 你 为什么 走 <em>了</em> 。</span> || 了1, 2
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|[[Advanced "le" with complements]] || Subj. + Verb + Complement + 了 || <span class="liju">我们 打 赢 <em>了</em> 比赛 。</span> || 了1, 2
 
|-
 
|-
|}\r\n
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|}
==See Also==
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 +
== See also ==
 +
 
 
* [[Expressing experiences with "guo"]]
 
* [[Expressing experiences with "guo"]]
* [[Using "guo" with "le"]]\r\n== Sources and further reading ==\r\n=== Books ===\r\n* [[Common Chinese Patterns 330 (汉语常用格式330例)]] (pp. 6-8, 14, 29, 71, 85, 108, 145, 150, 153, 158) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7802006473/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=7802006473 →buy]
+
* [[Using "guo" with "le"]]
 +
 
 +
== Sources and further reading ==
 +
 
 +
=== Books ===
 +
 
 +
* [[Common Chinese Patterns 330 (汉语常用格式330例)]] (pp. 6-8, 14, 29, 71, 85, 108, 145, 150, 153, 158) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7802006473/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=7802006473 →buy]
 
* [[Mandarin Chinese: A Functional Reference Grammar]] (pp. 185-300, 362) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0520066103?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0520066103 →buy]
 
* [[Mandarin Chinese: A Functional Reference Grammar]] (pp. 185-300, 362) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0520066103?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0520066103 →buy]
 
* [[Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide]] (pp. 62, 190, 192, 213-4, 218-9, 226-32, 236-9, 243-6, 261-2, 264-5) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415700108?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0415700108 →buy]
 
* [[Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide]] (pp. 62, 190, 192, 213-4, 218-9, 226-32, 236-9, 243-6, 261-2, 264-5) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415700108?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0415700108 →buy]
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* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 137-9, 208) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385 →buy]
 
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 137-9, 208) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385 →buy]
 
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 8, 203-4) [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]
 
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 8, 203-4) [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]
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1]] (pp. 11-4, 268-9) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276792/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276792 →buy]\r\n=== Websites ===\r\n* Mandarin Essential Grammar (Yale): [http://comet.cls.yale.edu/mandarin/content/le/grammar/changele.htm Change of State "le" 了]
+
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1]] (pp. 11-4, 268-9) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276792/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276792 →buy]
 +
 
 +
=== Websites ===
 +
 
 +
* Mandarin Essential Grammar (Yale): [http://comet.cls.yale.edu/mandarin/content/le/grammar/changele.htm Change of State "le" 了]
 
* Mandarin Essential Grammar (Yale): [http://comet.cls.yale.edu/mandarin/content/Lele/grammar/Lele.htm Perfective –Le 了 Vs Particle Le 了]
 
* Mandarin Essential Grammar (Yale): [http://comet.cls.yale.edu/mandarin/content/Lele/grammar/Lele.htm Perfective –Le 了 Vs Particle Le 了]
 
* CTCFL (Oxford): [http://www.ctcfl.ox.ac.uk/Lang%20work/Aspect%20notes.htm The use of the particle 了]
 
* CTCFL (Oxford): [http://www.ctcfl.ox.ac.uk/Lang%20work/Aspect%20notes.htm The use of the particle 了]
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* ChinesePod: [http://chinesepod.com/lessons/the-double-%E4%BA%86-le-phenomenon Qing Wen - The Double 了 (le) phenomenon] (free podcast content)
 
* ChinesePod: [http://chinesepod.com/lessons/the-double-%E4%BA%86-le-phenomenon Qing Wen - The Double 了 (le) phenomenon] (free podcast content)
 
* ChinesePod: [http://chinesepod.com/lessons/the-glorious%E4%BA%86le-part-1 Qing Wen - The Glorious 了(le): Part 1] (free podcast content)
 
* ChinesePod: [http://chinesepod.com/lessons/the-glorious%E4%BA%86le-part-1 Qing Wen - The Glorious 了(le): Part 1] (free podcast content)
* ChinesePod: [http://chinesepod.com/lessons/the-glorious-%E4%BA%86le-part-2 Qing Wen - The Glorious 了(le): Part 2] (free podcast content)\r\n=== Academic Research ===\r\n* Hooi Ling Soh and Meijia Gao, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities: [http://www.lingref.com/cpp/tls/2004/paper1510.pdf Perfective Aspect and Transition in Mandarin Chinese: An Analysis of Double –le Sentences] (PDF file)
+
* ChinesePod: [http://chinesepod.com/lessons/the-glorious-%E4%BA%86le-part-2 Qing Wen - The Glorious 了(le): Part 2] (free podcast content)
 +
 
 +
=== Academic Research ===
 +
 
 +
* Hooi Ling Soh and Meijia Gao, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities: [http://www.lingref.com/cpp/tls/2004/paper1510.pdf Perfective Aspect and Transition in Mandarin Chinese: An Analysis of Double –le Sentences] (PDF file)
 
* Marita Ljungqvist Ari, Lund University: [http://lup.lub.lu.se/luur/download?func=downloadFile&recordOId=21150&fileOId=912857 Aspect, tense and mood: Context dependency and the marker le in Mandarin Chinese] (PDF file)
 
* Marita Ljungqvist Ari, Lund University: [http://lup.lub.lu.se/luur/download?func=downloadFile&recordOId=21150&fileOId=912857 Aspect, tense and mood: Context dependency and the marker le in Mandarin Chinese] (PDF file)
* Limin Jin and Henriëtte Hendriks, Research Centre for English and Applied Linguistics: [http://www.rceal.cam.ac.uk/Publications/Working/Vol9/Jin.pdf The development of aspect marking in L1 and L2 Chines] (PDF file)\r\n[[Category:Structures]]
+
* Limin Jin and Henriëtte Hendriks, Research Centre for English and Applied Linguistics: [http://www.rceal.cam.ac.uk/Publications/Working/Vol9/Jin.pdf The development of aspect marking in L1 and L2 Chines] (PDF file)
 +
 
 +
[[Category:Structures]]
 
[[Category:Particles]]
 
[[Category:Particles]]

Latest revision as of 06:13, 5 June 2023

The Chinese particle 了 has been traditionally divided into two broad categories: aspectual particle 了 (AKA 了1) and modal particle 了 (AKA 了2). However, for a word with as many varied grammatical uses, such broad classifications don't seem particularly helpful to learners. This article offers an alternative way to understand 了: by listing out specific uses and patterns without regard for traditional classifications, starting with the ones learners will want to learn right away, and moving into more and more complicated uses.

Beginner (A1) Uses of 了

Grammar Point (English) Pattern Examples 了 Type
Expressing "excessively" with "tai" 太 + Adj + 了  ! 了2

Elementary (A2) Uses of 了

Grammar Point (English) Pattern Examples 了 Type
Expressing completion with "le" Verb + 了 她 去 北京 。 了1
Questions with "le ma" Verb + 了 + 吗 ? 你 吃饭 了 吗 了1
Using "guo" with "le" Verb + 过 + 了 我们 看 过 了 了1
Expressing "already" with just "le" Subj. + Verb + 了 我们 都 知道 了2
Result complement "-wan" for finishing Subj. + Verb + 完 + 了 我 说 完 了2
Expressing change of state with "le" [New Situation] + 了 今天 我 25 岁 了2
Expressing "now" with "le" [New Situation] + 了 电影 开始 了2
Expressing duration Verb + 了 + Duration 他 在 北京 住 了 两 年 了2
Expressing duration (ongoing) Verb + 了 + Duration + 了 他 在 北京 住 了 两 年 了 了2
Expressing "already" with "yijing" 已经 + Verb + 了 已经 了2
Expressing "about to happen" with "le" 快 + Verb / Adj. + 了 下雨 了2
Expressing "not anymore" with "le" (已经 +) 不 / 没(有) + [Verb Phrase] + 了 想 吃 了2
Expressing "stop doing" with "bie… le" 别 + Verb + 了 ,去 写 作业 。 了2
Superlative "zui" 最 + Adj. + 了 四川 菜 了2
Negative adjectives with "-si le" Adj. + 死了 我 今天 累 死了 了2

Intermediate (B1) Uses of 了

Grammar Point (English) Pattern Examples 了 Type
Making negative adjectives extreme with "-si le" Adj. + 死了 这 件 衣服 难看 死了 了2
Making positive adjectives extreme with "-ji le" Adj. + 极了 你的 中文 好 极了 了2
Expressing "much more" in comparisons Noun 1 + 比 + Noun 2 + Adj. + 多了 你 高 多 了 了2
Expressing duration of inaction (已经 +) Duration + 没 + Verb + 了 他 已经 三 天 没 洗澡 了2
Expressing "about to" with "jiuyao" Subj. + 就要 + Verb + 了 他们 就要 结婚 了2
Expressing "again" in the past with "you" 又 + Verb + 了 迟到 了2
Expressing "already" with "dou" 都 + Time + 了 九点 ,快点 起床 ! 了2
Expressing earliness with "jiu" Subj. + Time + 就 + Verb + 了 我 昨晚 八 点 半 睡觉 了2
Expressing "finally" with "zhongyu" Subj. + 终于 + Predicate + 了 终于 了2
Expressing "more and more" with "yuelaiyue" Subj. + 越来越 + Adj. + 了 天气 越来越 了2
Expressing "all at once" with "yixiazi" Subj. + 一下子 + Predicate + 了 天气 一下子 变 冷 了2

Upper Intermediate (B2) Uses of 了

Grammar Point (English) Pattern Examples 了 Type
Intensifying adjectives extreme with "ke" 可 + Adj (+ 了) 你 做 的 菜 可 好吃 了 了2
Expressing "A bit too" Adj + 了一点(儿) 这个 东西 的 质量 是 差 了 一点 了2
Advanced "le" with complements Subj. + Verb + Complement + 了 我们 打 赢 比赛 。 了1, 2

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Websites

Academic Research