Duration + 没 + Verb + 了 (how long you haven't …)
IntroducedFriends meet after a long gap
- Two friends have not met for ten years and are now greeting each other.
- we我们already已经ten years十年haven't没met见(completed / change)了。 — ten years十年 measures the period with no meeting.
Two friends have not met for ten years and are now greeting each other. What does 我们已经十年没见了。 communicate?
十年 measures the period with no meeting. Compare 我们见面谈了两个小时, where the duration follows the completed talking. Final 了 marks the current relevance of the gap; this greeting does not promise that the gap will continue after the reunion.
Build the form
- The pattern in this lesson is Duration + haven't没 + Verb + (completed / change)了 (how long you haven't …). Locate it in the original interlinear examples below.
- Keep the words in their demonstrated positions; the pattern must fit the intended situation as well as the sentence form.
we我们already已经ten years十年haven't没met见了。
Using the lesson pattern in this demonstrated example: Complete: 他一个星期 ____ 洗澡了。(He hasn't showered in a week.)
Duration + 没 + Verb + 了 — 一个星期没洗澡了.
Read examples in context
- In the opening example, we我们already已经ten years十年haven't没met见(completed / change)了。: ten years十年 measures the period with no meeting.
- Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.
Which uses the taught Duration + 没 + Verb + 了 frame for not meeting in ten years?
十年 precedes 没见 in 十年没见了. The question selects this demonstrated frame rather than rejecting every alternative wording.
Build the question: “How long has it been since you went home?”
Subject + Duration(多久) + 没 + Verb + 了: 你 + 多久 + 没回家 + 了.
Know the boundary
- Compare we我们to meet见面to speak谈(completed / change)了两个hour小时, where the duration follows the completed talking.
- Final (completed / change)了 marks the current relevance of the gap; this greeting does not promise that the gap will continue after the reunion.
For “haven't done X in a week,” the time goes after the verb.
It goes before: Duration + 没 + Verb + 了 (一个星期没洗澡了).
In the opening situation: 十年 measures the period with no meeting.
Compare 我们见面谈了两个小时, where the duration follows the completed talking. Final 了 marks the current relevance of the gap; this greeting does not promise that the gap will continue after the reunion. 十年 measures the period with no meeting.
Use the distinction
- ten years十年 measures the period with no meeting.
- Compare we我们to meet见面to speak谈(completed / change)了两个hour小时, where the duration follows the completed talking. Final (completed / change)了 marks the current relevance of the gap; this greeting does not promise that the gap will continue after the reunion.
Read the full reference: HSK 3 grammar — Adverbs.
Two friends have not met for ten years and are now greeting each other. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.
This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.