The aspect particle 了 (2)
In Chinese, 了 (le) follows the verb and marks the action as having happened or been completed.
The negative uses 没 (méi) and drops the 了.
Basic structure
Subject + verb + 了 + object
Meaning:
someone did / finished something.
Negative form
Subject + 没 + verb + object
Meaning:
someone did not do it.
Important:
with 没 + verb there is no 了.
我看了一个电影
我wǒI
看了kàn lewatched
一个电影yí ge diànyǐngone movie
Here 了 says that the watching happened.
我买了一个新电脑
我wǒI
买了mǎi lebought
一个新电脑yí ge xīn diànnǎoone new computer
Here 了 marks the buying as complete.
我昨天没去商店买东西
我wǒI
昨天zuótiānyesterday
没去méi qùdidn't go
商店shāngdiànshop
买东西mǎi dōngxibuy things
The negation here is 没, so there is no 了.
The rule in short
If the action happened
Verb + 了
… did it / … happened
Examples:
看了一个电影
买了一个新电脑
If the action did not happen
没 + verb
… did not do it
Example:
没去商店
Important:
the negative never carries 了.