eric
/
Chinese-comet.cls.yale.edu-grammar


			
				
					
						
						
							1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738394041424344454647484950515253545556575859606162636465666768697071727374757677787980818283
							<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE html>

<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xmlns:epub="http://www.idpf.org/2007/ops">
<head>
  <title>Modal particle le 了 (or sentence-end le 了)</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="../Styles/main.css"/>
</head>

<body>
  <h2>III. Modal particle <span class="pinyinst">le</span> <span class="hanzist">了</span> (or sentence-end <span class="pinyinst">le</span> <span class="hanzist">了</span>)</h2>

  <p>Modal particles help verbs express different moods. In the case of the modal particle <span class="pinyin">le</span> <span class="hanzi">了</span>, while representing the completion of the action indicated by the verb, it is used with a different intention than the aspect particle. The modal particle <span class="pinyin">le</span> <span class="hanzi">了</span> is used “<span class="rouge">to affirm the message and make the listener aware of its importance or relevance to the immediate situation</span>.” (Yi Po-Ching and Don Rimmington: 2004, p. 318). As such, the modal particle <span class="pinyin">le</span> <span class="hanzi">了</span> is used to explain a present situation. The object the verb takes is usually a generalized one and no specific information about it is given or sought after. The modal particle <span class="pinyin">le</span> <span class="hanzi">了</span> is placed at the end of the sentence. It may be difficult to distinguish it from the sentence-end <span class="pinyin">le</span> <span class="hanzi">了</span> indicating the emergence of a new situation. However, it is important to note that they both 'acknowledge some change in the picture of things.' (P.C. T 'ung and D. E. Pollard: 1982, p. 142).</p>

  <br/>

  <div class="grisleger">
    A. <span class="pinyin">Le</span> <span class="hanzi">了</span> is used to affirm the completion of the action and to make a point about a present situation.
  </div>

  <ol>
    <li><audio src="../Audio/lele-IIIA1-1.mp3" controls="controls"></audio>

<br/><span class="pinyin">Kèrén dōu dào <span class="rouge">le</span>. Wǒmén kāishǐ ba.<br/> <span class="hanzi">客人都到了。我们开始吧。</span><br/> The guests have all arrived. Let 's begin.<br/> </span></li>

    <br/>

    <div class="gris">
      The guests' arrival is important or relevant to what is going to happen next.
    </div>

    <br/>

    <li><audio src="../Audio/lele-IIIA1-2.mp3" controls="controls"></audio>

<br/><span class="pinyin">Tāmén dōu zǒu <span class="rouge">le</span>. Kěyǐ guān mén le.<br/> <span class="hanzi">他们都走了。可以关门了。</span><br/> They have all left. You can shut the door. </span></li>

    <br/>

    <div class="gris">
      The said people's departure makes it possible to shut the door.
    </div>

    <br/>

    <li><audio src="../Audio/lele-IIIA1-3.mp3" controls="controls"></audio>

<br/><span class="pinyin">Wǒ&#160;<span class="encadrevert">ZUÒ</span>&#160;zuòyè <span class="rouge">le</span>. Bú xìn nǐ kàn.</span><br/> <span class="hanzi">我做作业了。不信你看。</span><br/> I&#160;<span class="encadrevert">DID</span>&#160;my homework. (or: I've&#160;<span class="encadrevert">DONE</span>&#160;my homework.) If you don't believe me, you can check it.</li>

    <br/>

    <div class="gris">
      The completion of the homework makes the speaker free from some kind of obligation. It may be followed, for example, by a request to let him go out and play with other kids. This tells us that when a speaker uses the modal particle <span class="pinyin">le</span> <span class="hanzi">了</span>, he has a point to make.
    </div>

    <br/>

    <li><audio src="../Audio/lele-IIIA1-4.mp3" controls="controls"></audio>

<br/><span class="pinyin">Wǒ yǐjīng gàosù tā <span class="rouge">le</span>.<br/> <span class="hanzi">我已经告诉他了。</span><br/> I've already told him. </span></li>

    <br/>

    <div class="gris">
      By affirming the completion of the action, the speaker intends to say that the other person referred to as 'he' already knows about the matter.
    </div>

    <br/>

    <li><audio src="../Audio/lele-IIIA1-5.mp3" controls="controls"></audio>

<br/><span class="pinyin">Wǒ yǐjīng chī <span class="rouge">le</span>.<br/> <span class="hanzi">我已经吃了。</span><br/> I've already eaten. (Don't cook for me any more.)<br/> </span></li>

    <br/>

    <div class="gris">
      By affirming the fact that he has eaten, the speaker emphasizes the point that he is not hungry.
    </div>
  </ol>

  <p>When using the modal particle <span class="pinyin">le</span> <span class="hanzi">了</span>to affirm completion of the action, the speaker always has a point to make about the immediate situation. The modal particle <span class="pinyin">le</span> <span class="hanzi">了</span> relates the completion of an action to its impact on the present situation.</p>
</body>
</html>