<p><strong>Let's review the uses of 了:</strong></p>
<p>I. Used after a verb to indicate perfective aspect (action completion). The pattern is V + 了 + object.</p>
<ul>
<li>我吃了一個蘋果. ―  I ate an apple. / I have eaten an apple.</li>
</ul>
<p>II. Used at the end of a sentence to A) indicate a change of state, or B) to inform the beginning of an action.</p>
<ul>
<li><p>A) 他是大學生了. ―  He has become a college student. / He is a college student now.</p>
</li>
<li><p>B) 我走了. ―  I'm leaving now.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Here are my opinions on your questions:</strong></p>
<ol>
<li>我不能和你一起去买(自行车)了. (IIA)</li>
</ol>
<p>b) I can't come with you to purchase the bicycle (now).</p>
<ol start="2">
<li>我爸爸昨天没有回家，我想我应该自己做了。(IIA)</li>
</ol>
<p>b) I think I have to do it myself (now).</p>
<ol start="3">
<li>那匹马往咱们这儿跑来了. (IIB) [那匹马往咱们这儿跑<strong>了</strong>来.] (I)</li>
</ol>
<p>That horse runs toward us</p>
<ol start="4">
<li>他们看见一个大黑熊走过来了。(IIB) 他们看见一个大黑熊走<strong>了</strong>过来.</li>
</ol>
<p>b) They see a black bear coming by.</p>
<ol start="5">
<li>往前走三分钟，就到八号楼了。(IIB) 往前走三分钟，就到<strong>了</strong>八号楼.</li>
</ol>
<p>b) After three minutes, you will then reach building 8.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-01-24T19:34:50.637Z
2023-01-24T19:34:50.637Z
r13
<p>Sometimes I find it hard to distinguish between</p>
<p>a) 了1 (completion of action) and</p>
<p>b) 了2 (change of state).</p>
<p>In the following examples, I couldn't find out what kind 了 it is?</p>
<ol>
<li><p>我不能和你一起去买自行车了.</p>
<p>a) I couldn't come with you.</p>
<p>b) (Now) I can't come with you. (Before I could).</p>
</li>
<li><p>我爸爸昨天没有回家，我想我应该自己做了。</p>
</li>
</ol>
<p>a) I should have done myself and completed this task.</p>
<p>b) (Now in this new situation) I have to do it myself. (Before my father used to help me)</p>
<ol start="3">
<li><p>那匹马往咱们这儿跑来了，我觉得它跑得非常快。</p>
<p>I have no idea about the function of 了 in this one.</p>
</li>
<li><p>他们看见一个大黑熊走过来了。</p>
<p>a) The bear came here.</p>
<p>b) The bear started to come here. (Coming of bear is a new situation)</p>
</li>
<li><p>往前走三分钟，就到八号楼了。</p>
</li>
</ol>
<p>a) After three minutes, act of reaching will be completed.</p>
<p>b) After three minutes, you will start to reach.</p>

<grammar><aspect>
Function of 了 Completion of Action or Change of State
# Function of 了 Completion of Action or Change of State

(Asked by: username_0 on 2023-01-24)

Sometimes I find it hard to distinguish between

a) 了1 (completion of action) and

b) 了2 (change of state).

In the following examples, I couldn't find out what kind 了 it is?

1. 我不能和你一起去买自行车了.

   a) I couldn't come with you.

   b) (Now) I can't come with you. (Before I could).
2. 我爸爸昨天没有回家，我想我应该自己做了。

a) I should have done myself and completed this task.

b) (Now in this new situation) I have to do it myself. (Before my father used to help me)

3. 那匹马往咱们这儿跑来了，我觉得它跑得非常快。

   I have no idea about the function of 了 in this one.
4. 他们看见一个大黑熊走过来了。

   a) The bear came here.

   b) The bear started to come here. (Coming of bear is a new situation)
5. 往前走三分钟，就到八号楼了。

a) After three minutes, act of reaching will be completed.

b) After three minutes, you will start to reach.

**Tags:** grammar, aspect


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2023-01-24. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

**Let's review the uses of 了:**

I. Used after a verb to indicate perfective aspect (action completion). The pattern is V + 了 + object.

* 我吃了一個蘋果. ― I ate an apple. / I have eaten an apple.

II. Used at the end of a sentence to A) indicate a change of state, or B) to inform the beginning of an action.

* A) 他是大學生了. ― He has become a college student. / He is a college student now.
* B) 我走了. ― I'm leaving now.

**Here are my opinions on your questions:**

1. 我不能和你一起去买(自行车)了. (IIA)

b) I can't come with you to purchase the bicycle (now).

2. 我爸爸昨天没有回家，我想我应该自己做了。(IIA)

b) I think I have to do it myself (now).

3. 那匹马往咱们这儿跑来了. (IIB) [那匹马往咱们这儿跑**了**来.] (I)

That horse runs toward us

4. 他们看见一个大黑熊走过来了。(IIB) 他们看见一个大黑熊走**了**过来.

b) They see a black bear coming by.

5. 往前走三分钟，就到八号楼了。(IIB) 往前走三分钟，就到**了**八号楼.

b) After three minutes, you will then reach building 8.


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