Aspect Accomplished - Use Dynamic Particles “了1” to Express
完成态 — 用动态助词“了1”表示
The aspect of accomplishment is expressed with 了 placed after the verb. It indicates that an action is completed.
Structure
Verb + 了 + (Number + Classifier + Object)
How to use it
- After the verb to signal the completed action; the object is often quantified.
Examples
他吃了一个苹果。
tā chī le yí ge píngguǒ。
He ate an apple.
吃了饭再去图书馆。
chī le fàn zài qù tú shū guǎn
Let's eat first, then go to the library.
我买了两本书。
wǒ mǎi le liǎng běn shū。
I bought two books.
她去了上海。
tā qù le shàng hǎi。
She went to Shanghai.
Notes and exceptions
- 了 marks the COMPLETION, not the past itself.
- 了 : aspect particle. This particle serves to mark the action that has been completed or finished. Common combinations observed: 了 (aspect/changing).
Common mistakes
- Without quantification, the sentence seems incomplete: 我买了书 → 我买了一本书.
Practice quiz
Choose the best option for each sentence, then submit to view the correction.
1. 他吃____一个苹果。
(He ate an apple.)
2. 吃____饭再去图书馆。
(Let's eat first, then go to the library.)
3. 我买____两本书。
(I bought two books.)
4. 她去____上海。
(She went to Shanghai.)