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<h1>Expressing "already" with just "<span class="pinyinst">le</span>" "<span class="hanzist">了</span>"</h1>
<p>You understand the word <span class="hanzi">已经</span> (<span class="pinyin">yǐjīng</span>) to mean "<b>already</b>" in Chinese, and it is followed with a <span class="hanzi">了</span> (<span class="pinyin">le</span>). However, sometimes, that feeling of "<b>already</b>" can also be expressed with <span class="hanzi">了</span> (<span class="pinyin">le</span>) alone if it is used in response to a preceding question or statement.</p>
<h2 id="structure">Structure</h2>
<div class="deux">
<p>[Verb Phrase] + <span class="hanzist">了</span></p>
</div>
<h2 id="examples">Examples</h2>
<p>When "already" is implied using this structure, it is usually (if not always) in response to a preceding question or statement. Therefore, the following examples are in dialogue format.</p>
<div class="exemple">
<ul>
<li>A:<span class="hanzi">老板 呢？</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn ne?</span><br/> Where is the boss?</li>
<li>B:<span class="hanzi">他 走 <span class="fondjaune">了</span>。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Tā zǒu <span class="fondjaune">le</span> </span> <br/>He (already) left.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="exemple">
<ul>
<li>A:<span class="hanzi">孩子 还在 上 大学 吗？</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Háizi hái zài shàng dàxué ma?</span><br/> Are your kids still in college?</li>
<li>B:<span class="hanzi">他们 工作 <span class="fondjaune">了</span>。</span><br/><span class="vert">This expression emphasizes that they're not students anymore, and have already entered the workforce.</span><br/> <span class="pinyin">Tāmen gōngzuò <span class="fondjaune">le</span> </span> <br/>They (already) work.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="exemple">
<ul>
<li>A:<span class="hanzi">用 我 的 车 吧？</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Yòng wǒ de chē ba?</span><br/> How about using my car?</li>
<li>B:<span class="hanzi">谢谢，我们 有 车 <span class="fondjaune">了</span>。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Xièxie, wǒmen yǒu chē <span class="fondjaune">le</span> </span> <br/>Thanks. We (already) have a car.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="exemple">
<ul>
<li>A:<span class="hanzi">你 要 不 要 告诉 他？</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Nǐ yào bu yào gàosu tā?</span><br/> Are you going to tell him?</li>
<li>B:<span class="hanzi">他 知道 <span class="fondjaune">了</span>。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Tā zhīdào <span class="fondjaune">le</span>.</span><br/> He (already) knows.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="exemple">
<ul>
<li>A:<span class="hanzi">你 应该 问 老师。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Nǐ yīnggāi wèn lǎoshī.</span><br/> You should ask the teacher.</li>
<li>B:<span class="hanzi">我 问 <span class="fondjaune">了</span>。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Wǒ wèn <span class="fondjaune">le</span>.</span><br/>I (already) asked.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h2 id="see-also">See Also</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href=""Already"_with_"yijing"" title="wikilink">"Already" with "yijing"</a></li>
<li><a href="Expressing_"not_anymore"_with_"le"" title="wikilink">Expressing "not anymore" with "le"</a></li>
<li><a href="Uses_of_"le"" title="wikilink">Uses of "le"</a></li>
</ul>
<h2 id="sources-and-further-reading">Sources and further reading</h2>
<h3 id="books">Books</h3>
<ul>
<li>Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar (p. 68)</li>
<li>Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (pp. 126-9)</li>
<li>Mandarin Chinese: A Functional Reference Grammar (pp. 238-99)</li>
<li>>New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (<span class="hanzi">新实用汉语课本2</span>) (pp. 217-8)</li>
<li>New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (<span class="hanzi">新实用汉语课本3</span>) (pp. 64-5)</li>
<li>Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed) (p. 8)</li>
<li>40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (<span class="hanzi">基础汉语40课上册</span>） (p. 239)</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="websites">Websites</h3>
<ul>
<li>Chinesegrammar.info: <a href="http://chinesegrammar.info/particles/le-grammar-summary/">Chinese le grammar summary (了)</a></li>
</ul>
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