The use of 了 to imply completed action

Position of Examples in Chinese Meaning in English

了 in the sentence
After verb 我坐了半个小时 I sat for half an hour.
我只说了一句话 I’ve only said one sentence.
After first verb 他把书都卖了 He has sold off all his books.
你吃了饭再走 Please go after the meal. or please don’t go until
After first & last you have eaten.
verb 他吃了饭就走了
After last verb He left after he had finished the meal.
他又去食堂买了一碗
饺子 He went to the canteen again and bought a bowl of
dumplings
End of sentence * 她学完汉语了 She has finished learning Chinese.
她去中国了 She has gone to China.
她去上海看朋友了 She has gone to Shanghai to visit a friend.
了 for completed Examples in Chinese Meaning in English
action is not used
with:

1. negation 我没有作练习 I didn’t do the exercises.

2. habitual action 去 年 我 常常 / 总 是 /每 I (often) / (always) went to a restaurant (everyday)
天上饭馆 last year.
3. modal verbs and 我昨天就应该去看她 I should have gone to see her yesterday.
verbs expressing 她 以 前 爱 /喜 欢 吃 牛 肉 She loved / liked beef in the past.
feeling : 应 该, 可 我小时候能说十种语 I could speak ten languages when I was little.
以, 能, 要, 想, 得, 言
爱, 喜 欢, 觉 得, 他昨天想请我吃饭 He wanted to treat me to a meal yesterday.
愿 意, 希 望, 知 道 我上星期就知道他们 I knew (as early as) last week that they were going
要去国外 abroad.
他两年前就希望去中 He hoped (as early as) two years ago that he would
国 go to China.
4. 是, 在, 有 when
我去年在中国
acting as the main
我去年是学生 I was in China last year.
verb in a sentence 我去年只有两个中国 I was a student last year.
朋友
I only had two Chinese friends last year.
上个月我很忙
前几天她说她帮我作
5. stative verbs 练习 I was very busy last month
6. direct speech, 他刚才唱得很好听 She said a few days ago that she would help me to
indirect speech do the exercises.
7. The 得 我昨天买的鞋是破的
construction He sang very beautifully a minute ago.
8. The 的 clause
The shoes that I bought yesterday are damaged.

*
These sentences can also imply a change of situation. Please see modal particle 了

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 Modal particle 了

The use of 了 to bring the time up to the present

了 used at the end 小王等了她十年了 Xiao Wang has been waiting for her for ten years.
of a sentence 我 们 是 多 年 的 好 朋 友 了 We’ve been friends for many years.
implies that a 这是十年前的事了 It happened ten years ago.
sustained action
extends to the
present

The use of 了 to emphasize an action which has taken place

After the verb & at 我买了票了 I’ve BOUGHT the ticket.
the end of the 她已经喝过了酒了 She has already DRUNK the wine.
sentence
At the end of the 她 的 汉 语 比 我 的 好 多了 Her Chinese is MUCH better than mine.
sentence

The use of 了 to imply a change of situation

At the end of the 我不去了 I am not going. (I have changed my mind.)
sentence 夏 天了，天热了 It’s summer now; so it’s hot.
她的病好了 She has recovered from the illness.
他学会吸烟了 He has learnt how to smoke.
好 了 ， 算 了 ， 我 们 不 OK, forget it, we are not going to talk about this.
说了
这 辆 车 已 经 是 旧 的 了 This car is already an old model.

The use of 了 to imply imminent action

要... 了 我 们 一 会 儿 要 吃 饭 了 We are about to eat.
快... 了 电影快开始了 The film is about to start.
快 要... 了 她快要哭了 She is about to cry.
就 要... 了 我们就要考试了 We are about to have examinations.
都 要... 了 火车都要开了 The train is about to leave.
就 快... 了 我们就快下班了 We are about to finish our (work) shift.

The use of 了 to imply excessiveness

太 ...了 她太漂亮了 She is extremely beautiful.
...极 了 难吃 极 了 It’s disgusting (to eat).
可 ...了 他可有意思了 He is extremely funny (interesting / lovable).

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