Difference between revisions of "Uses of le"

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* Chinese Teachers' Net: [http://pears.lib.ohio-state.edu/China/le.html On ''Le'']
 
* Chinese Teachers' Net: [http://pears.lib.ohio-state.edu/China/le.html On ''Le'']
 
* ChinesePod: [http://chinesepod.com/lessons/%E4%BA%86-le-somethings-about-to-happen Qing Wen - 了 (le): Something's About to Happen] (free podcast content)
 
* ChinesePod: [http://chinesepod.com/lessons/%E4%BA%86-le-somethings-about-to-happen Qing Wen - 了 (le): Something's About to Happen] (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)
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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-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)
  
 
=== Academic Research ===
 
=== Academic Research ===

Revision as of 14:10, 17 October 2011

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" 太 + Adj + 了  ! 了2

Elementary (A2) Uses of 了

Grammar Point (English) Pattern Examples 了 Type
Expressing Completion with "le" V + 了 她 去 北京。 了1
Questions with "le ma" V + 了 + 吗? 北京 去 了 吗 了1
Expressing Duration Verb + 了 + [Duration] 他 在 北京 住 了 两 年 了2
Expressing Duration of Inaction [Duration] + 没 + [Verb Phrase] ) (+ 了) 他 已经 三 天 没 洗澡 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 那 个 孩子 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
Making Adjectives Extreme with "zui" 最 + Adj (+ 了) 这 种 啤酒 最 好 了 了2
Intensifying Adjectives Extreme with "ke" 可 + Adj (+ 了) 你 做 的 菜 可 好吃 了 了2
Expressing "Much More" in Comparisons N1 + 比 + N2 + Adj + 多了 你 高 多 了 了2
Expressing Change of State with "le" ……了 今天 我 25 岁 。你的 衣服 脏 了2

Upper Intermediate (B2) Uses of 了

Grammar Point (English) Pattern Examples 了 Type
Expressing "A bit too" Adj + 了一点(儿) 这个 东西 的 质量 是 差 了 一点 了2
Sentence-Final "le 1+2" ……了 我 明白 你 为什么 走 了1, 2

Sources and further reading

Books

Websites

Academic Research