了(le)/了(liǎo)

“了” has been a challenging character for many learners. It actually has two pronunciations.

了(le)

When pronouncing as “le”, 了 is an auxiliary word. It can function as an aspect particle to express the completion of an action, or a modal particle to express a change or tone.

(The detailed explanation and tutorials about “le”)

e.g.

我看了一本书。(Wǒ kànle yī běn shū.) I read a book.

我喝了一杯咖啡。(Wǒ hēle yībēi kāfēi.) I drank a cup of coffee.

我想家了。(Wǒ xiǎng jiā le.) I miss my home.

这件事有意思极了!(Zhè jiàn shì yǒuyìsi jíle!) This thing is very interesting!

了(liǎo)

When pronouncing as “liǎo”, 了 can be a verb, an adjective, or an adverb.

As a verb:

了(liǎo) means understand, end, or decide.

e.g.

  • 了然于心 (liǎo rán yú xīn) Clearly understood
  • 一目了然 (yī mù liǎo rán) Clear at a glance
  • 了解 (liǎo jiě) Understand
  • 了断 (liǎo duàn) To settle; to resolve

As an adjective:

了(liǎo) means wisdom.

e.g.

小时了了,大未必佳 (Xiǎo shí liǎo liǎo, dà wèi bì jiā) A child prodigy may not necessarily become a successful adult

As an adverb:

了(liǎo) can be put after a verb as a complement. There is always 得 or 不 in between.

(The detailed tutorials and practices about the complement of possibility)

e.g.

你看这件事办得了吗?(Nǐ kàn zhè jiàn shì bàndéliǎo ma?) Do you think this matter can be resolved?

这个视频看不了,怎么回事?(Zhè gè shìpín kàn bù liǎo, zěnme huí shì?) This video can’t be viewed, what’s going on?

这个APP我现在用不了,还没付费呢。(Zhè gè APP wǒ xiàn zài yòng bù liǎo, hái méi fù fèi ne.) I can’t use this app now because I haven’t paid yet.

我不舒服,明天的比赛我参加不了。(Wǒ bù shūfu, míngtiān de bǐsài wǒ cānjiā bùliǎo.) I’m not feeling well, I can’t participate in the game tomorrow.

Exercise

1. 事情终于解决了。(Shì qíng zhōng yú jiě jué ___.)
A.
B.
2. 我昨天买了一本书。(Wǒ zuó tiān mǎi ___ yī běn shū.)
A.
B.
3. 这件事情你处理得了吗?(Zhè jiàn shì qíng nǐ chǔ lǐ dé ___ ma?)
A.
B.
4. 我们已经学了很多中文。( Wǒ men yǐ jīng xué ___ hěn duō zhōng wén.)
A.
B.
5. 这次考试我通过了。( Zhè cì kǎo shì wǒ tōng guò ___.)
A.
B.
6. 我不太了解她的想法。(Wǒ bù tài ___ jiě tā de xiǎng fǎ.)
A.
B.
7. 他们公司的策略是一目了然的。(Tāmen gōngsī de cèlüè shì yī mù ___ rán de.)
A.
B.
8. 你真了不起,学一年中文就能和中国人聊天了。(Nǐ zhēn ___ bù qǐ, xué yī nián zhōng wén jiù néng hé zhōng guó rén liáo tiān le.)
A.
B.
9. 我们已经解决了所有问题。(Wǒmen yǐ jīng jiě jué ___ suǒ yǒu wèn tí.)
A.
B.
10. 我们家去不了非洲,孩子太小了。(Wǒmen jiā qù bù ___ fēi zhōu, háizi tài xiǎo le.)
A.
B.
11. 她的报告已经写了。(Tā de bào gào yǐ jīng xiě ___.)
A.
B.
12. 我的手机开不了了,你有充电器吗?(Wǒ de shǒu jī kāi bù ___ le, nǐ yǒu chōng diàn qì ma?)
A.
B.
13. 如果你们真的不喜欢对方,那就做个了断吧。(Rúguǒ nǐmen zhēn de bù xǐ huān duì fāng, nà jiù zuò gè ___ duàn ba.)
A.
B.

 

Hundreds of interactive grammar exercises with answer explanations!

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