Verb + 了 + Duration (did for a length of time) · 动词 + 了 + 时段
A duration differs from a clock time
- You describe the length of yesterday's sleep.
- 我睡了八个小时。 — 八个小时 measures how long the sleeping lasted.
A duration differs from a clock time
- You describe the length of yesterday's sleep.
- I / me我to sleep睡(completed / change)了八个hour小时。 — 八个hour小时 measures how long the sleeping lasted.
You describe the length of yesterday's sleep. What does 我睡了八个小时。 communicate?
八个小时 measures how long the sleeping lasted. 八点 names a clock time instead. A completed duration alone does not determine whether a longer habit continues: 我学了三年中文 reports three years without automatically proving that study has ended forever.
Build the form
- The pattern in this lesson is Verb + 了 + Duration (did for a length of time). 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.
I我study学了three三year年Chinese中文。
Build the form
- The pattern in this lesson is Verb + (completed / change)了 + Duration (did for a length of time). 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.
I我study学了three三year年Chinese中文。
Using the lesson pattern in this demonstrated example: I studied Chinese for three years: 我学 ____ 三年中文。
Verb + 了 + Duration: 学了三年 = studied for three years. · 动词 + 了 + 时段:学了三年 = 学习了三年。
Read examples in context
he他sleep睡了eight八(measure word)个hour小时。
- In the opening example, 我睡了八个小时。: 八个小时 measures how long the sleeping lasted.
- Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.
Read examples in context
he他sleep睡了eight八(measure word)个hour小时。
- In the opening example, I / me我to sleep睡(completed / change)了八个hour小时。: 八个hour小时 measures how long the sleeping lasted.
- Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.
What does the duration answer? · 时段回答什么问题?
It is a LENGTH (how long), placed after the verb: 睡了八个小时. · 它是时段(多长),放动词后:睡了八个小时。
Build: “I studied Chinese for three years.” · 排一排:“我学了三年中文。”
Subj + Verb + 了 + Duration: 我 + 学了 + 三年中文. · 主语 + 动词 + 了 + 时段:我 + 学了 + 三年中文。
Know the boundary
- 八点 names a clock time instead.
- A completed duration alone does not determine whether a longer habit continues: 我学了三年中文 reports three years without automatically proving that study has ended forever.
Know the boundary
- 八点 names a clock time instead.
- A completed duration alone does not determine whether a longer habit continues: 我学(completed / change)了三年Chinese language中文 reports three years without automatically proving that study has ended forever.
The duration goes before the verb. · 时段放在动词之前。
Duration follows the verb (+了): 学了三年中文. · 时段放动词(+了)之后:学了三年中文。
A duration with one 了 always proves that the activity has ended permanently.
八点 names a clock time instead. A completed duration alone does not determine whether a longer habit continues: 我学了三年中文 reports three years without automatically proving that study has ended forever. 八个小时 measures how long the sleeping lasted.
Use the distinction
- 八个小时 measures how long the sleeping lasted.
- 八点 names a clock time instead. A completed duration alone does not determine whether a longer habit continues: 我学了三年中文 reports three years without automatically proving that study has ended forever.
Read the full reference: HSK 3 grammar — Verb phrases.
Use the distinction
- 八个hour小时 measures how long the sleeping lasted.
- 八点 names a clock time instead. A completed duration alone does not determine whether a longer habit continues: 我学(completed / change)了三年Chinese language中文 reports three years without automatically proving that study has ended forever.
Read the full reference: HSK 3 grammar — Verb phrases.