The Glorious了(le): Part 1

了1是一个动态助词。

"Le" number one is an aspectual particle.

表示动作的状态。这个“了”是表示动作的完成。

It expresses the state of an action. This "le" expresses an action's state of completion.

我买了一件衣服。

I bought an article of clothing.

我吃了一个苹果。

I ate an apple.

我睡了一个午觉。

I took a nap.

这本书我看了四遍。

I read this book four times.

觉得

To think.

我觉得中文很容易。

I think Chinese is very easy.

我以前觉得中文很容易。

I used to think Chinese was very easy.

是

To be.

我以前是老师。

I used to be a teacher.

喜欢

To like.

我以前喜欢Michael Jordan.

I used to like Michael Jordan.

讨厌

To hate.

希望

To hope.

姓

To be named.

因为现在我们女性解放了。

Because we women are now liberated.

还有一些习惯性的动作也不能加“了”。

There's also a few habitual verbs where you can't add "le".

那这个时候，它的句子里面经常会有“每天”或者“常常”、"经常"这些词。

In these cases, words like "every day", "often", or "frequently" are often in the sentence.

我上大学的时候经常喝咖啡。

I drank coffee often when I was in university.

我以前住在上海。

I used to live in Shanghai.

了2是语气助词。表示变化。

"Le" number two is a modal particle. It expresses change.

下雨了！

It's raining!

同志们，吃饭了！

Guys, time to eat!

马上要吃饭了。

It's almost time to eat.

我以前很胖，现在瘦了。

I used to be very fat, but now I'm skinny.

我以前不会骑自行车，现在会了。

I used to be unable to ride a bike, but now I can.

我以前没有女朋友，现在有了。

I used to not have a girlfriend, but now I do.

我以前很爱你，现在不爱你了。

I used to really love you, but now I don't.

要......了

Is going to.

就要......了

Is about to.

快要......了

Is going to.

快快快，车要开了。

Quick, quick, quick! The car is leaving.

飞机就要起飞了。

The plane is about to take off.

太好了！

Great!

太贵了！

Too expensive!

那我们快要下班了。

We're almost off work.

那请问就要结束了。

The Qing Wen is about to end.

所以请问就做完了，说完了。

So Qing Wen is almost over. We're done speaking.