How to express ongoing duration with double 了 (le)
Verb + 了 (le) + Duration + 了 (le)
了 (le) — ongoing duration
Verb + 了 (le) + Duration + 了 (le)
HSK 3Verb phrases了 (le) — ongoing duration
Rule structure
The structure verb + 了 (le) + duration + 了 (le) indicates an action that started in the past and continues up to the present moment. The final 了 (le) shows the situation is still relevant now.
Rule structure
The structure verb + 了 (le) + duration + 了 (le) indicates an action that started in the past and continues up to the present moment. The final 了 (le) shows the situation is still relevant now.
Examples
他等了一个小时了。
Tā děng le yī gè xiǎoshí le.
He has been waiting for an hour.
Examples
他等了一个小时了。
Tā děng le yī gè xiǎoshí le.
He has been waiting for an hour.
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Frequently asked questions
How do you say “ongoing duration” in Chinese with 了?
Use the structure: Verb + 了 (le) + Duration + 了 (le). For example: 他等了一个小时了。 — “He has been waiting for an hour.”.
What is an example sentence with this grammar rule?
他等了一个小时了。 — “He has been waiting for an hour.”.
Which HSK level includes this grammar rule?
This grammar rule is part of HSK 3.
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More HSK 3 grammar rules
了 — ongoing duration with double 了
Verb + 了 (le) + Duration + 了 (le)
难 — hard to do
难 (nán) + Verb
很 — very with verbs
很 (hěn) + Verb
没办法 — can't help, no way
没办法 (méi bànfǎ) + Verb
一边 — doing two things at once
一边 (yìbiān) + Verb 1, 一边 (yìbiān) + Verb 2
如果…就 — if… then…
如果 (rúguǒ)……，就 (jiù)……
万 — big numbers
Number + 万 (wàn) / 亿 (yì)
地 — turning adjectives into adverbs
Adj. + 地 (de) + Verb