<p>I think it's OK with or without 了</p>

<p>因为我喜欢读中文书，所以我开始了自学汉语。</p>

<p>因为我喜欢读中文书，所以我开始自学汉语。</p>

<p>The problem, as I see it, is: How can you know you like to read Chinese books before you have studied Chinese?? You cannot have read any! Kind of grates on logic!</p>

<p>为了能够看懂中文，我开始了自学汉语。<br>
In order to be able to read Chinese, I began to study the Chinese language.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-12T00:28:58.533Z
I've read translated chinese novels.....
小奥利奥
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-12T12:53:59.930Z
@小奥利奥 in that case, you can say 因为我喜欢读(来自)中国的书，所以我开始自学汉语.
sylvia
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-12T00:17:37.203Z
2019-11-12T00:17:37.203Z
Pedroski
<p>In general when using auxiliary verbs, where the auxiliary verb is in the past tense while the main verb isn't. An example:</p>

<ul>
<li>Because I like to read Chinese books, I <strong>began teaching myself</strong> Mandarin. </li>
<li>因为我喜欢读中国书，所以我<strong>开始了自学</strong>汉语。</li>
</ul>

<p>Is my placement of 了 correct? If not, what would be the appropriate way to convey this?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-11T23:55:14.280Z
了 is not mandatory in this case. 因为我喜欢读中国书，所以我开始自学汉语 is just fine. Your sentence is fine too.
dan
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-12T07:44:10.217Z
I would prefer 因为我喜欢读中文(?)书，所以我开始自学汉语了。
tsh
<grammar><usage>
Where to place 了 when using an auxiliary verb?
# Where to place 了 when using an auxiliary verb?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-11-11)

In general when using auxiliary verbs, where the auxiliary verb is in the past tense while the main verb isn't. An example:

* Because I like to read Chinese books, I **began teaching myself** Mandarin.
* 因为我喜欢读中国书，所以我**开始了自学**汉语。

Is my placement of 了 correct? If not, what would be the appropriate way to convey this?

**Tags:** grammar, usage

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: 了 is not mandatory in this case. 因为我喜欢读中国书，所以我开始自学汉语 is just fine. Your sentence is fine too.  
> **username_2**: I would prefer 因为我喜欢读中文(?)书，所以我开始自学汉语了。  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2019-11-12. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

I think it's OK with or without 了

因为我喜欢读中文书，所以我开始了自学汉语。

因为我喜欢读中文书，所以我开始自学汉语。

The problem, as I see it, is: How can you know you like to read Chinese books before you have studied Chinese?? You cannot have read any! Kind of grates on logic!

为了能够看懂中文，我开始了自学汉语。  
In order to be able to read Chinese, I began to study the Chinese language.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: I've read translated chinese novels.....  
> **username_4**: @username_0 in that case, you can say 因为我喜欢读(来自)中国的书，所以我开始自学汉语.  

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