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了 after the verb: a completed action

动词后了 · 動詞後了

Level 2 · Aspect · 体

V + 了 marks an action as done, when context is concrete

The pattern

S + V + 了 (+ O)
  • 了 right after the verb says the action was carried through: 我吃了饭 'I ate', 他买了一本书 'he bought a book'. It is NOT a general past tense, habitual or negative past uses 不/没.
  • With a number phrase it anchors the event: 我写了三封信 'I wrote three letters'.

Examples

我吃了早饭。 我吃了早飯
wǒ chī le zǎo fàn
I ate breakfast.
她买了两件衣服。 她買了兩件衣服
tā mǎi le liǎng jiàn yī fu
She bought two items of clothing.
我们看了那个电影。 我們看了那個電影
wǒ men kàn le nà gè diàn yǐng
We watched that movie.

Quick check

1. 'He drank a coffee.'
  1. 他喝咖啡了杯。
  2. 他喝了一杯咖啡。
  3. 他一杯喝咖啡。
Show answer 他喝了一杯咖啡。 · V + 了 + numbered object.
2. Which needs NO 了?
  1. 我昨天买了票。
  2. 我每天喝咖啡。
  3. 她洗了澡。
Show answer 我每天喝咖啡。 · Habit 'every day': 了 marks completion, not routine.
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