Chinese grammar · Elementary (A2)
了 after the verb: completed actions
了 after a verb shows a completed action (我看了一个电影). Its negative is 没(有) without 了, and questions use 了吗 or 了没有.
Not a past tense
Chinese verbs have no past tense. Time words such as (zuótiān, yesterday) already say when something happened, and often that's enough: (wǒ zuótiān hěn máng, I was busy yesterday). 了 (le) after a verb adds something different: it shows that an action is completed, done and finished.
That's why 了 after the verb usually comes with a detail that marks the end point: how many, how much or which one. (wǒ kànle yí ge diànyǐng, I watched a film), (wǒ mǎile liǎng jīn píngguǒ, I bought a kilo of apples).
- 我昨天看了一个电影。Wǒ zuótiān kànle yí ge diànyǐng.I watched a film yesterday.
- 她喝了三杯咖啡。Tā hēle sān bēi kāfēi.She drank three cups of coffee.
- 我买了两斤苹果。Wǒ mǎile liǎng jīn píngguǒ.I bought a kilo of apples.
After the verb or at the end
With a plain object and no number, 了 straight after the verb sounds unfinished, as if more is coming. Then put 了 at the end of the sentence instead: (wǒ qù chāoshì le, I went to the supermarket). With no object at all, 了 simply follows the verb: (tā zǒu le, he's left).
Verb + 了 + object without a number does work when another action follows: (wǒ chīle fàn jiù zǒu, I'll leave as soon as I've eaten).
| Pattern | Example |
|---|---|
| verb + 了 + number + object | (Wǒ kànle yí ge diànyǐng.) I watched a film. |
| verb + object + 了 | (Wǒ qù chāoshì le.) I went to the supermarket. |
| verb + 了, no object | (Tā zǒu le.) He's left. |
| verb + 了 + object, then another action | (Wǒ chīle fàn jiù zǒu.) I'll leave as soon as I've eaten. |
- 你周末做什么了？Nǐ zhōumò zuò shénme le?What did you do at the weekend?
- 我和爸妈在家包饺子了。Wǒ hé bàmā zài jiā bāo jiǎozi le.I made dumplings at home with my parents.
The negative: 没(有), without 了
To say that something didn't happen, put (méi) or (méiyǒu) before the verb and leave out 了: (wǒ méi qù, I didn't go), never 我没去了. Don't use here: (wǒ bú qù le) means “I'm not going after all”.
(hái méi) means “not yet”, and the sentence often ends with (ne): (wǒ hái méi chī ne, I haven't eaten yet).
- 我昨天没去超市。Wǒ zuótiān méi qù chāoshì.I didn't go to the supermarket yesterday.
- 他没买。Tā méi mǎi.He didn't buy it.
- 我还没吃呢。Wǒ hái méi chī ne.I haven't eaten yet.
Questions: 了吗 and 了没有
Add to a sentence with 了: (Nǐ chīfàn le ma? Have you eaten?). Or add at the end: (Nǐ chīfàn le méiyǒu?) To answer yes, repeat the verb with 了: (chī le). To answer no, say (méi chī) or (hái méi ne, not yet).
is also a friendly greeting around mealtimes, especially among older people. It isn't necessarily an invitation.
| Done | Not done | Question |
|---|---|---|
| (Wǒ chī le.) | (Wǒ méi chī.) | (Nǐ chī le ma?) |
| (Tā lái le.) | (Tā méi lái.) | (Tā lái le méiyǒu?) |
| (Wǒ mǎi le.) | (Wǒ méi mǎi.) | (Nǐ mǎi le ma?) |
- 你吃饭了吗？Nǐ chīfàn le ma?Have you eaten?
- 还没呢。Hái méi ne.Not yet.
- 票买了没有？Piào mǎi le méiyǒu?Have you bought the tickets?
When not to use 了, and 了 with a length of time
Don't use 了 for past habits or states: (yǐqián wǒ měi tiān pǎobù, I used to run every day), (zuótiān hěn lěng, it was cold yesterday). Verbs like , , and don't take it just because the time is past.
With a length of time, 了 shows a finished period: (wǒ zài nà jiā gōngsī gōngzuòle liǎng nián, I worked at that company for two years, and then left). With a second 了 at the end, the period is still going on: (wǒ zài zhèr gōngzuòle sān nián le, I've been working here for three years). The page on 了 at the end of a sentence explains this.
Because 了 shows completion, not the past, it can even be used about the future: (míngtiān xiàle bān wǒ qù zhǎo nǐ, tomorrow, when I've finished work, I'll come and see you).
- 以前我每天跑步。Yǐqián wǒ měi tiān pǎobù.I used to run every day.
- 我在那家公司工作了两年。Wǒ zài nà jiā gōngsī gōngzuòle liǎng nián.I worked at that company for two years.
- 我在这儿工作了三年了。Wǒ zài zhèr gōngzuòle sān nián le.I've been working here for three years.
- 明天下了班我去找你。Míngtiān xiàle bān wǒ qù zhǎo nǐ.Tomorrow after work I'll come and see you.