Grammar Point:
Some textbooks may list multiple meanings to explain the Chinese character 了 le, but actually, there are only three of them main uses which we refer 了1, 了2, and 了3.
Before you read this post, please make sure you have known what is 了1, 了2, and 了3.
If you are not sure about it, you can check this article: 了 Part1
了2 (Sentence particle 了) different usage
快 kuài / 快要 kuàiyào / 就要 jiùyào / 要 yào + V + 了2
It indicates that the situation is about to change soon.
By adding any of these four adverbs – 快 Kuài, 快要 kuàiyào, 就要 jiùyào, or 要 yào – into the sentence, along with the use of 了2 to indicate a change of state, it implies that the situation will change soon.
他的生日快到了他的生日快到了
His birthday is coming soon.
他要睡覺了他要睡觉了
He is going to sleep.
Verb-suffix 了1 + Sentence 了2
S + (已經/已经) + V + 了1 + NU+M +了2
It indicates that the progress is up to the present.
他已經喝了兩杯酒了他已经喝了两杯酒了
He has drunk two glasses of wine already.
我寫了500個中國字了我写了500个中国字了
I have written 500 Chinese characters.
S + V + 了1 + Time spent (的 de + O)+ 了2
It indicates that the progress is up to the present.
他已經看了兩個鐘頭的電視了他已经看了两个钟头的电视了
He has watched TV for 2 hours already.
這隻狗，他養了五年了这只狗，他养了五年了
(Topic, S V O) He has had this dog for 5 years.
Special Verbs
These four verbs, 在 zài, 姓 xìng, 是 shì, and 有 yǒu, express a state or a condition rather than an action, and thus they cannot be completed. Therefore, they cannot be used with 了1. However, 了2 can be used because it indicates a change in the state or condition of the statement.
我在日本了我在日本了
I am in Japan now. (I wasn’t in Japan before)
我是老師了我是老师了
I am a teacher now.
Let’s compare these 4 sentences!
1. 我有狗我有狗
2. 我有了狗我有了狗
3. 我以前有狗我以前有狗
4. 我有狗了我有狗了
1. I have a dog. (Fact, present)
2. Wrong sentence!
3. I had a dog. (By adding time word to show in the past)
4. I have a dog now. (I don’t have a dog before.)
If you are interested in learning more details, I have created a PDF for your review that includes 16 pages, 50 examples, 10 comparisons, as well as 23 exercises with answers.
了 Part 2
