Aspect markers show how an action relates to time and meaning, helping learners convey nuances like completion, experience, and ongoing states. This guide covers 了, 过, and 着 with clear examples.
了 (le) - Completion and Change
了 often signals that an action has been completed or that there has been a change of state. It appears after a verb or at the end of a sentence depending on the nuance.
Sentence-Ending 了
Sentence-ending 了 emphasizes a change or that something has just happened. It can signal that a new situation is in place.
Verb-Object 了
When 了 follows a verb-object phrase, it usually marks that the action is finished. This is common for concrete completions.
Difference Between 了 and 了了
Double 了 (verb 了 了) with some verbs intensifies completion, but in most cases a single 了 suffices. Context determines whether two 了s are natural.
过 (guo) - Experience
过 marks that someone has had the experience of doing something at least once. It does not focus on when the action happened, just that it happened.
Typical Placement of 过
过 comes after the verb and before any potential objects or complements. It slots neatly into the sentence to highlight experience.
Using 过 in Questions and Negatives
To ask about experience use "有没有" + verb + 过. To negate experience put 没 + verb + 过. This framing keeps 过 in its standard position.
Difference Between 了 and 过
了 focuses on completed actions tied to a particular time or change, while 过 highlights whether the action was ever done. Use 过 for experience and 了 for specific completions.
着 (zhe) - Ongoing State or Manner
着 attaches to verbs to indicate that an action or state is continuing, often describing how something is done or that a condition remains. It highlights duration or simultaneous actions.
着 for Continuing States
When 着 follows a verb, it signals that the action is ongoing or that an effect remains. This is common in descriptions and scene-setting.
着 in Short Phrases
Short phrases with 着 often describe posture, position, or manner. These can serve as background details while other actions occur.
Difference Between 着 and 了
着 marks an ongoing state or habitual manner, while 了 signals completion or change. Use 着 to highlight continuity and 了 to highlight endings.
Summary
了 marks completed actions or changes, 过 signals past experience, and 着 highlights ongoing states or manners. Paying attention to their placements helps convey precise timing and meaning.
Last updated: Fri Oct 24, 2025