How to use 了
Verb + Result / Direction Complement + 了; Selected Verb + 了 + Direction Complement
With a result complement, 了 normally follows the complete verb-result unit. The action and result form the predicate whose occurrence is being asserted, so separating them with 了 is not the ordinary pattern. The object, if present, can follow this combined unit. Final placement may also contribute a sense that the resulting situation now holds.
Some directional constructions allow 了 after the main verb and before the direction phrase, especially in narrative or written styles. This flexibility does not extend automatically to result complements. Identify the complement type first, then choose a pattern established for that combination. A simple distinction between formal and informal style cannot replace checking the particular verb and complement.
Examples with pinyin and English
吃完了。
Finished eating.
周杰伦演唱会的门票卖光了。
Jay Chou's concert tickets are sold out.
我们打赢了比赛。
We won the competition.
我已经把行李拿了上来。
I've already brought my luggage up.
What to remember
- Result complements normally precede 了.
- Selected directional phrases allow Verb + 了 + Direction.
- Identify the complement before choosing placement.
Practise the pattern
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Source and editorial notes
Explanation rewritten for Laowai. Examples are adapted from the Laowai English grammar curriculum, with editorial corrections where needed. The original curriculum credits AllSet Learning’s Chinese Grammar Wiki as used with permission. Read the retained source credits.
Difficulty labels describe the level of the explanation; they are not official HSK placement. Send a correction with this page’s URL.