You understand the word [已经 (yǐjīng)](ASGNXI27 "wikilink") to mean
"already" in Chinese, and it is followed with a [了
(le)](了 "wikilink"). However, sometimes, that feeling of "already" can
also be expressed with 了 (le) alone if it is used in response to a
preceding question or statement.

Structure
---------

<div class="jiegou">
\[Verb Phrase\] + 了

</div>
Examples
--------

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.

<div class="liju">
-   <span class="speaker">A:</span> 老板 呢？<span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn
    ne? </span><span class="trans">Where is the boss? </span>
-   <span class="speaker">B:</span>他 走
    <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin">Tā zǒu
    <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">He (already) left.</span>

</div>
<div class="liju">
-   <span class="speaker">A:</span> 孩子 还在 上 大学
    吗？<span class="pinyin">Háizi hái zài shàng dàxué ma?
    </span><span class="trans">Are your kids still in college? </span>
-   <span class="speaker">B:</span>他们 工作
    <em>了</em>。<span class="expl">This expression emphasizes that
    they're not students anymore, and have already entered the
    workforce.</span><span class="pinyin">Tāmen gōngzuò
    <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">They (already) work.</span>

</div>
<div class="liju">
-   <span class="speaker">A:</span> 用 我 的 车
    吧？<span class="pinyin">Yòng wǒ de chē ba?
    </span><span class="trans">How about using my car? </span>
-   <span class="speaker">B:</span>谢谢，我们 有 车
    <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin">Xièxie, wǒmen yǒu chē
    <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">Thanks. We (already) have a
    car.</span>

</div>
<div class="liju">
-   <span class="speaker">A:</span>你 要 不 要 告诉
    他？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ yào bu yào gàosu tā?
    </span><span class="trans">Are you going to tell him? </span>
-   <span class="speaker">B:</span>他 知道
    <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin">Tā zhīdào
    <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">He (already) knows.</span>

</div>
<div class="liju">
-   <span class="speaker">A:</span>你 应该 问
    老师。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ yīnggāi wèn lǎoshī.
    </span><span class="trans">You should ask the teacher.</span>
-   <span class="speaker">B:</span>我 问
    <em>了</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ wèn
    <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">I (already) asked.</span>

</div>
See Also
--------

-   ["Already" with "yijing"]("Already"_with_"yijing" "wikilink")
-   [Expressing "not anymore" with
    "le"](Expressing_"not_anymore"_with_"le" "wikilink")
-   [Uses of "le"](Uses_of_"le" "wikilink")

Sources and further reading
---------------------------

### Books

-   [Basic Patterns of Chinese
    Grammar](Basic_Patterns_of_Chinese_Grammar "wikilink") (p. 68)
    [→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1933330899/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=1933330899)
-   [Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second
    Edition](Chinese:_An_Essential_Grammar,_Second_Edition "wikilink") (pp.
    126-9)
    [→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415372615/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0415372615)
-   [Mandarin Chinese: A Functional Reference
    Grammar](Mandarin_Chinese:_A_Functional_Reference_Grammar "wikilink") (pp.
    238-99)
    [→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0520066103?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0520066103)
-   [New Practical Chinese Reader
    2 (新实用汉语课本2)](New_Practical_Chinese_Reader_2_(新实用汉语课本2) "wikilink") (pp.
    217-8)
    [→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561911297/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561911297)
-   [New Practical Chinese Reader
    3 (新实用汉语课本3)](New_Practical_Chinese_Reader_3_(新实用汉语课本3) "wikilink") (pp.
    64-5)
    [→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/756191251X/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=756191251X)
-   [Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2
    (3rd ed)](Integrated_Chinese:_Level_1,_Part_2_(3rd_ed) "wikilink") (p.
    8)
    [→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276709/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276709)
-   [40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course
    (基础汉语40课上册）](40_Lessons_for_Basic_Chinese_Course_(基础汉语40课上册） "wikilink") (p.
    239)[→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001FTL8D8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001FTL8D8&linkCode=as2&tag=allset-20)

### Websites

-   Chinesegrammar.info: [Chinese le grammar
    summary (了)](http://chinesegrammar.info/particles/le-grammar-summary/)

[Category: A2 grammar points](Category:_A2_grammar_points "wikilink")