了
le
Particle (completed action or change of state)
How to say “I’ve already done it” in Chinese with 了 (le)
Subj. + Verb Phrase + 了 (le)
了 (le) — already done
HSK 2Particles
Subj. + Verb Phrase + 了 (le)
HSK 2Particles了 (le) — already done
Rule structure
The particle 了 (le) at the end of a sentence can indicate a change of state or that a new situation has already come into being. This often translates to "already" in English, especially with time-related phrases.
Rule structure
The particle 了 (le) at the end of a sentence can indicate a change of state or that a new situation has already come into being. This often translates to "already" in English, especially with time-related phrases.
Examples
我吃了。
Wǒ chī le.
I've already eaten.
他去了学校。
Tā qù le xuéxiào.
He has already gone to school.
我看书了。
Wǒ kànshū le.
I've already read the book.
Examples
我吃了。
Wǒ chī le.
I've already eaten.
他去了学校。
Tā qù le xuéxiào.
He has already gone to school.
我看书了。
Wǒ kànshū le.
I've already read the book.
Practice
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Frequently asked questions
How do you say “already done” in Chinese with 了?
Use the structure: Subj. + Verb Phrase + 了 (le). For example: 我吃了。 — “I've already eaten”.
What is an example sentence with this grammar rule?
我吃了。 — “I've already eaten”.
Which HSK level includes this grammar rule?
This grammar rule is part of HSK 2.
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More HSK 2 grammar rules
着 — ongoing state
Verb + 着 (zhe)
过 — completed action in the past
Verb + 过 (guo) + 了 (le)
吧 — conceding with “ba”
⋯⋯吧 (ba)
呢 — question particle
⋯⋯呢 (ne)?
过 — experience marker
Verb + 过 (guo)
最 — superlative “most”
最 (zuì) + Adj. (+ 了 (le))
到 — direction with “to go to”
到 (dào) + Place + 去 (qù)
虽然 — although… but…
虽然 (suīrán)⋯⋯，但是 (dànshì) / 可是 (kěshì)⋯⋯