Verb + Object + 了 (completion, le at the end)
Where the (completed / change)了 lands
- When (completed / change)了 marks completion with a simple object, it can sit at the end: Verb + Obj + (completed / change)了.
- I / me我to have a meal吃饭(completed / change)了 = "I've eaten."
- The (completed / change)了 closes the whole event.
Verb + Object + (completed / change)了
- A sentence-final (completed / change)了 wraps up the completed action.
I我eat吃meal饭了。
- I / me我to have a meal吃饭(completed / change)了 = "I've eaten (now)."
Explore
Correct or broken?
Bare object → 了 parks at the end; a COUNTED object pulls 了 onto the verb.
Practice
I've eaten: 我吃饭 ____。
Verb + Object + 了 = completed event: 我吃饭了.
Practice
The position of 了 can shift depending on the object.
Yes — 吃饭了 (end) vs 吃了三碗饭 (after verb).
Recap
Key idea
- Verb + Object + (completed / change)了 — completion, (completed / change)了 at the end: I / me我to have a meal吃饭(completed / change)了
- With a quantified object, (completed / change)了 goes after the verb: variant of 吃吃(completed / change)了三碗cooked rice饭
- Position of (completed / change)了 shifts with the object
Read the full reference: HSK 5 grammar — Particles.
Practice
With a quantified object (三碗饭), where does 了 go?
Quantified object → verb-了: 吃了三碗饭.