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(Wǒ)看(kàn)了(le)一(yí)个(ge)电(diàn)影(yǐng)。

I watched a movie.

Structure

看 + 了 + 一个电影 watch + completion + one movie

我(wǒ)I

看(kàn)了(le)watched

一(yí)个(ge)电(diàn)影(yǐng)one movie

Here 了 says that the watching happened.

我(Wǒ)买(mǎi)了(le)一(yí)个(ge)新(xīn)电(diàn)脑(nǎo)。

I bought a new computer.

Structure

买 + 了 + 一个新电脑 buy + completion + one new computer

我(wǒ)I

买(mǎi)了(le)bought

一(yí)个(ge)新(xīn)电(diàn)脑(nǎo)one new computer

Here 了 marks the buying as complete.

我(Wǒ)昨(zuó)天(tiān)没(méi)去(qù)商(shāng)店(diàn)买(mǎi)东(dōng)西(xi)。

I didn't go to the shop to buy things yesterday.

Structure

没 + 去 negation + go

我(wǒ)I

昨(zuó)天(tiān)yesterday

没(méi)去(qù)didn't go

商(shāng)店(diàn)shop

买(mǎi)东(dōng)西(xi)buy 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(kàn)了(le)一(yí)个(ge)电(diàn)影(yǐng)

watched a movie

买(mǎi)了(le)一(yí)个(ge)新(xīn)电(diàn)脑(nǎo)

bought a new computer

If the action did not happen

没 + verb

… did not do it

Example:

没(méi)去(qù)商(shāng)店(diàn)

didn't go to the shop

Important: the negative never carries 了.