HSK 1 grammar · new HSK syllabus
了 after a verb: completed actions
了 after a verb shows the action is completed: 我买了两本书.
Structure
- Verb + 了 + (number + measure word) + object
How it works
了 straight after a verb says the action is finished. It is common when the object has a number or detail: 我买了两本书, 他喝了一杯茶.
了 is about completion, not about past time. Habits in the past don’t take 了: 以前我每天喝茶 (no 了).
The negative uses 没 and drops 了: 我没买书.
Examples
-
我买了两本书。
Wǒ mǎi le liǎng běn shū.
I bought two books.
-
他喝了一杯茶。
Tā hē le yì bēi chá.
He drank a cup of tea.
-
我们看了一个电影。
Wǒmen kàn le yí gè diànyǐng.
We watched a film.
-
她写了很多汉字。
Tā xiě le hěn duō Hànzì.
She wrote a lot of characters.
-
昨天我去了医院。
Zuótiān wǒ qù le yīyuàn.
I went to the hospital yesterday.
Words in these examples (22)
| 我 | wǒ | I; me | HSK 1 |
| 买 | mǎi | to buy | HSK 1 |
| 了 | le | (particle marking a completed action or a change) | HSK 1 |
| 两 | liǎng | two (before a measure word) | HSK 1 |
| 本 | běn | (measure word for books) | HSK 1 |
| 书 | shū | book | HSK 1 |
| 他 | tā | he; him | HSK 1 |
| 喝 | hē | to drink | HSK 1 |
| 一 | yī | one | HSK 1 |
| 茶 | chá | tea | HSK 1 |
| 我们 | wǒmen | we; us | HSK 1 |
| 看 | kàn | to look; to watch; to read | HSK 1 |
| 个 | gè | (general measure word) | HSK 1 |
| 电影 | diànyǐng | film; movie | HSK 1 |
| 她 | tā | she; her | HSK 1 |
| 写 | xiě | to write | HSK 1 |
| 很 | hěn | very | HSK 1 |
| 多 | duō | many; much; (in questions) how | HSK 1 |
| 汉字 | Hànzì | Chinese character | HSK 1 |
| 昨天 | zuótiān | yesterday | HSK 1 |
| 去 | qù | to go | HSK 1 |
| 医院 | yīyuàn | hospital | HSK 1 |
Common mistakes
-
✗我没买了书。
✓我没买书。
Negated actions drop 了.
-
✗我昨天是很忙了。
✓我昨天很忙。
A description of a past state doesn’t need 了 or 是.
Check yourself
Choose the word that fills the gap.
1. 我吃 三个饺子。
2. 他昨天没去 学校。
3. 你买 什么？