Live stream lesson based on this material can be replayed on YouTube or Instagram @marcopolomandarin
Note:Grammar is a concise summary of a language. It can explain and understand some language phenomena, and help language learners master the primary use of the language quickly. However, all grammatical rules have limitations. So I suggest you listen more to native Chinese speakers and read more materials for native Chinese speakers. Only high-quality input can help you learn more authentic Chinese.
Ⅰ.“Verb +了 le ” indicates past tense, like “did”. For example,
他买了一本书。
Tā mǎi le yì běn shū.
He bought a book.
Exercise: translate the following sentences into Chinese
- I drink a lot of water.
- I had two cups of coffee this morning.
- I went to the coffee shop this morning and had two cups of coffee.
4.I walked to the coffee shop this morning and had two cups of coffee.
Note: the negative pattern is “没 + verb”, NO 了le . For example,
我今天没买书。
Wǒ jīntiān méi mǎishū.
I didn’t buy a book today.
Exercise: translate the following sentences into Chinese
- I didn’t drink a lot of water.
Ⅱ. “了 le” appears at the end of a sentence to emphatically confirms the completion or realization of an event or situation. For example,
你昨天去哪儿了？
Nǐ zuótiān qù nǎ’r le?
Where were you yesterday?
Exercise: translate the following sentences into Chinese
- I went to the mall to buy clothes yesterday.
2.I went home and slept in the afternoon.
Ⅲ. A sentence with two “了le”.
- 我学了两年中文。
Wǒ xué le liǎng nián zhōngwén.
I studied Chinese for two years.
2.我学了两年中文了。
Wǒ xué le liǎng nián zhōngwén le.
I have been studying Chinese for two years.
Exercise: translate the following sentences into Chinese
- I traveled for three months this year.
2.I have been traveling for three months this year.
Ⅳ.“了 le” at the end of sentences to show the status has changed.
- 我饿了。
Wǒ è le.
I’m hungry.
- 我累了。
Wǒ lèi le.
I’m tired.
Exercise: translate the following sentences into Chinese
1.It started to rain.
2.Now I have internet at home.
Four most common pattern with "了 le"
Ⅴ. 太tài + adj/verb + 了
1.太贵了。
Tài guì le.
It’s too expensive.
2.我太喜欢吃肉了。
Wǒ tài xǐhuan chī ròu le.
I like eating meat so much.
Exercise: translate the following sentences into Chinese
- Very good.
- I want to travel so much.
- I like learning Chinese so much.
Ⅵ. 要/快要/就要………了 Yào/kuàiyào/jiù yào………le It’s about to………
要下雨了。yào xià yǔ le. It is going to rain.
Exercise: translate the following sentences into Chinese
- We are about to have a holiday.
2.They’ll have an exam tomorrow.
Ⅶ. 该……了 Gāi……le It’s time to…
十一点了，该睡觉了。
shíyī diǎnle, gāi shuìjiào le.
It’s eleven o’clock, it’s time to go to bed.
Exercise: translate the following sentences into Chinese
- It’s time for me to have lunch.
2.There is dictation tomorrow, so I should review new words.
Ⅷ. Adjective/psychological verb + 死了 sǐ le very, so …
今天热死了。 Jīntiān rè sǐ le. It’s so hot today.
- They are very busy today.
- I’m so anxious.
Note: According to information on learning materials for foreigners, it is easy for foreigners to use “了” correctly at the beginner level, but at the advanced stage, when “了” has more usage scenarios, it is difficult for foreign learners to completely use “了” correctly. I think even if you know all the grammar rules, it won’t completely help you use them correctly. You can only listen to and read more authentic Chinese materials. Instead of memorizing grammatical rules, it is better to do deliberate sentence training, communicate more with Chinese people, and read more Chinese materials.
