{{Grammar Box}} The 了 (le) particle is used in many different ways. In this article, we will explore how to use the double 了 (le) to express the duration of an activity that is ongoing. == Ongoing Duration with Simple Verbs == Expressing [[Expressing duration with "le"|''how long'' you did something in the past]] is one thing, but what if the action is still ongoing? A clarifying example (in English) is appropriate: * I lived in Shanghai for 5 years. (concluded, not ongoing) * I have lived in Shanghai for 5 years. (mostly likely ongoing) * I have been living in Shanghai for 5 years. (definitely ongoing) This article is about expressing the third situation above, the one which is ''definitely ongoing''. === Structure ===
Subj. + Verb + 了 + Duration + 了
The first 了 (le) is placed after the verb (to indicate that the action is completed), followed by the duration, followed by an additional 了 (le) which tells us that the action has not concluded and is ongoing. You can think of the second 了 (le) as communicating the meaning of "up until now." === Examples ===
* 你 睡 了 一 天 了。Nǐ shuì le yī tiān le.You have been sleeping for the whole day. * 他 在 北京 住 了 两 年 了。Tā zài Běijīng zhù le liǎng nián le.He has been living in Beijing for two years. * 这 个 会，他们 开 了 两 个 小时 了。Zhège huì, tāmen kāi le liǎng gè xiǎoshí le.They've been holding this meeting for the past two hours. * 我 在 这儿 等 了 半 个 小时 了。Wǒ zài zhèr děng le bàn gè xiǎoshí le.I have been waiting here for half an hour. * 他们 在 酒吧 待 了 一 个 晚上 了。Tāmen zài jiǔbā dāi le yī gè wǎnshang le.They have been staying at the bar for the whole evening.
== When the Verb Takes an Object == === Structure === Note that in the examples above, the verbs have no objects. When the verb has an object, the verb is often repeated:
Subj. + Verb + Obj. + Verb + 了 + Duration + 了
=== Examples ===
* 我 学 中文 学 了 一 年 了。Wǒ xué Zhōngwén xué le yī nián le.I have been learning Chinese for a year. * 他 打 电话 打 了 一 个 多 小时 了。Tā dǎ diànhuà dǎ le yī gè duō xiǎoshí le.He has been on the phone for more than an hour. * 老板 打 游戏 打 了 一 个 上午 了。Lǎobǎn dǎ yóuxì dǎ le yī gè shàngwǔ le.The boss has been playing video games all morning. * 你 洗澡 洗 了 差不多 一 个 小时 了。Nǐ xǐzǎo xǐ le chàbuduō yī gè xiǎoshí le.You have been showering for almost an hour. * 妈妈 看电视 看 了 一 晚上 了。 Māma kàn diànshì kàn le yī wǎnshang le.Mom has been watching TV all evening.
== Sources and Further Reading == === Books === * [[Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar]] (p. 68) [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 →buy] * [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 203-4) [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 →buy] * [[Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1]] (pp. 13-4) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276792/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276792 →buy] === Websites === * Yale: [http://comet.cls.yale.edu/mandarin/content/Lele/grammar/Lele.htm The Perfective –Le了 Versus The Modal Particle Le了] [[Category:A2 grammar points]] {{Basic Grammar|了|A2|Verb + 了 + Duration + 了|他 在 北京 住 了 两 年 了。|grammar point|ASG69RR8}} {{Rel char|了}} {{Used for|Expressing time and date}} {{Used for|Expressing duration}} {{Used for|Referring to the past}} {{Similar|Expressing duration of inaction}} {{Similar|Expressing duration with "le"}} {{POS|Verbs}} {{Subprop|Verb phrases}}