The Perfective –Le了 Versus The Modal Particle Le了
II. Perfective aspect particle le (or verb-suffix le了)
A. Verb taking a quantified object or complement of duration
B. Verb taking a modified object
C. Verb with a built-in terminal point
E. Verb taking a series of unquantified objects
F. Verb modified by a long adverbial
III. Modal particle le (or sentence-end le了)
A. Le 了is used to affirm the completion of the action and to make a point about the present situation
B. Le 了is used to ask or answer questions about whether someone has done something. (Did you ...? or Have you ...?)
C. Le 了is used to ask about what someone did
D. Le 了is used to ask or answer questions about where someone went/has gone
E. Le 了is used to ask or answer general questions about who did something without requesting specific information
about quantity, duration and so on
F. Asking and answering questions about how long someone has not done something
G. Special verbs taking a phrase of duration.
H. Modal particle le used to sum up after a series of actions
IV. Aspect particle le了 and modal particle le了 used together with a quantified object or duration (so far, up to now)
V. Aspect particle le了 and modal particle le了 used together without a quantified object or duration between them
VI. Where verb suffix –le了 is not used
A. Habitual activities or repeated events
B. The first verb in a pivotal construction
C. The first in a series of verbal expressions
D. Verbs that take direct quotations
E. Verbs that take indirect quotations
F. Dispositional verbs and verbs that show a state of being
G. Verbs that show ability or possibility
H. Verbs that take verbal constructions as objects