The Particle 了(le)
The dynamic particle 了 signifies: 1) the occurrence or completion of an action or event, or 2) the emergence of a situation. The action, event, or situation usually pertains to the past, but sometimes it can refer to the future. Therefore 了 is not a past tense marker, and the use of 了 should not be taken as an equivalent to the past tense in English.
了 indicates the occurrence or completion of an action or event. It is usually used after a verb, but sometimes it appears after a verb and the object of the verb in interrogative and declarative sentences.
Ex) 今天妈妈喝了三杯水。
明天我吃了晚饭去看电影。
There is often a specific time phrase in a sentence with the dynamic particle 了, such as 今天,星期四,etc.
When 了 is used between the verb and the object, the object is usually preceded by a modifier. Numeral + measure word is the most common type of modifier. If the object following 了 is a proper noun, it does not need a modifier.
If there are phrases or sentences following the object of the first clause, then the object does not need a modifier. This V 了 O+V(O) structure can be used to depict a sequence of two actions. It doesn't matter whether the two actions take place in the past or in the future.
To say that an action did not take place in the past, use 没(有) instead of 不⋯了 or 没有⋯了.
Ex) 昨天我没有打球。
If a statement enumerates a series of realized actions or events, 了 usually appears at the end of the series, rather than after each of the verbs.
了 indicates the occurrence or completion of an action or event. It is usually used after a verb, but sometimes it appears after a verb and the object of the verb in interrogative and declarative sentences.
Ex) 今天妈妈喝了三杯水。
明天我吃了晚饭去看电影。
There is often a specific time phrase in a sentence with the dynamic particle 了, such as 今天,星期四,etc.
When 了 is used between the verb and the object, the object is usually preceded by a modifier. Numeral + measure word is the most common type of modifier. If the object following 了 is a proper noun, it does not need a modifier.
If there are phrases or sentences following the object of the first clause, then the object does not need a modifier. This V 了 O+V(O) structure can be used to depict a sequence of two actions. It doesn't matter whether the two actions take place in the past or in the future.
To say that an action did not take place in the past, use 没(有) instead of 不⋯了 or 没有⋯了.
Ex) 昨天我没有打球。
If a statement enumerates a series of realized actions or events, 了 usually appears at the end of the series, rather than after each of the verbs.
When 了 occurs at the end of a sentence, it usually indicates a change of status or the realization of a new situation.
Ex) 下雪了。(It's snowing now.)
妹妹累了。(My sister has become tired.)
你看,公共汽车来了。(Look, the bus is here.)
When used in this sense, 了 can still be used at the end of a sentence if the sentence is negative.
Ex) 我没有钱了,不买了。(I don't have any money [left]. I won't buy it anymore.)
Ex) 下雪了。(It's snowing now.)
妹妹累了。(My sister has become tired.)
你看,公共汽车来了。(Look, the bus is here.)
When used in this sense, 了 can still be used at the end of a sentence if the sentence is negative.
Ex) 我没有钱了,不买了。(I don't have any money [left]. I won't buy it anymore.)