Asking questions about completed actions will involve using both 了 (le)
and 吗 (ma). These are simply added to the end of a sentence or
statement. Just make sure that 了 (le) comes first, followed by 吗 (ma).
Basic Usage
Structure
Subj. + Verb + Obj. + 了吗?
Note the order of 了 (le) and 吗 (ma).
Examples
- 你 吃饭 了 吗?Nǐ chīfàn le
ma? Did you eat?
- 老板 走 了 吗?Lǎobǎn zǒu le
ma? Did the boss leave?
- 你男朋友 找到 新 工作 了 吗?Nǐ
nánpéngyou zhǎodào xīn gōngzuò le ma?
Has your boyfriend found a new job yet?
- 妈妈,你 昨天 给 我 打电话 了
吗?Māma, nǐ zuótiān gěi wǒ dǎ diànhuà
le ma? Mom, did you call me
yesterday?
- 你 今天 去 上班 了 吗?Nǐ jīntiān qù
shàngbān le ma? Did you go to
work today?
With a Topic
Structure
Topic (+ Subj.) + Verb + 了吗?
NOTE: in this structure, the topic is also the object for the verb.
Examples
- 晚饭 你 吃 了 吗?Wǎnfàn nǐ chī le
ma? Did you eat dinner?
- 衣服 你 洗 好 了 吗?Yīfu nǐ xǐ hǎo
le ma? Have you finished washing
the clothes?
- 作业 你 写 完 了 吗?Zuòyè nǐ xiě wán
le ma? Have you finishing doing
homework?
- 这 个 电影 你 看 了 吗?Zhège diànyǐng
nǐ kàn le ma? Have you seen this
movie?
- 我 的 邮件 你 收到 了 吗? Wǒ de
yóujiàn nǐ shōudào le ma? Have
you received my email?
Finally, please note that this pattern is nothing more than the
combination of the
expressing completion with
"le" pattern and the
yes/no questions with "ma"
pattern.
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
Category:A2 grammar points