D. Verbs taking a direct quotation do not take verb-suffix le了.

 

4.1     Tā shuō(x), “Wǒ yǐjīng bìyè sān nián le.” 

他说：“我已经毕业三年了。”

He said, “It’s been three years since I graduated.”

 

4.2     Tā wèn(x) wǒ: “Nǐ chī fàn le ma?” 

          他问我：“你吃饭了吗？”

          He asked me, “Have you eaten yet?”