Verb phrasesHSK 3
Expressing duration with 了
Use 了 after the verb to tell how long a completed action lasted. The time duration is placed between the verb and the object, not at the end of the sentence. Remember to put 了 right after the verb, not at the end.
Structure
Subj. + Verb + 了 + Duration + Obj.
Examples
- 他学了一年中文。Tā xué le yī nián Zhōngwén.He studied Chinese for a year.
- 我看了一个晚上书。Wǒ kàn le yī gè wǎnshang shū.I read books all evening.
- 他做了八年经理。Tā zuò le bā nián jīnglǐ.He worked as a manager for eight years.
- 我们坐了十五个小时的飞机。Wǒmen zuò le shíwǔ gè xiǎoshí de fēijī.We took a fifteen hour flight.
- 奶奶看了一天的电视。Nǎinai kàn le yī tiān de diànshì.Grandma watched TV all day.