HSK 1Particles
Completed Action 了
了 after a verb indicates a completed action.
Pattern
Subject + Verb + 了 + Object
Explanation
了 (le) placed after a verb indicates the action has been completed. It's not exactly 'past tense' — it marks completion.
When negating a completed action, use 没 and drop 了: '我没吃早饭' (not '我没吃了早饭').
Examples
我吃了早饭。
Wǒ chī le zǎofàn.
I ate breakfast.
他买了一本书。
Tā mǎi le yì běn shū.
He bought a book.
我们看了电影。
Wǒmen kàn le diànyǐng.
We watched a movie.
Common Mistakes
Wrong
我没吃了早饭。
Correct
我没吃早饭。
Never use 了 with 没. Drop 了 when negating.
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