Complement of Time Duration (时量补语)

Pattern

• Subject + Verb + 了 + Duration + Object
• Subject + Verb + Object + Verb + 了 + Duration
• Subject + Verb + 了 + Duration + 了

Usage

• The complement of duration (时量补语 shíliàng bǔyǔ) expresses the length of time an action or state lasts.
• Basic structure: Verb + Duration.
• Example: 我休息了二十分钟 (I rested for twenty minutes).
• When an object is present, there are two primary standard structures: (1) Verb repetition: Verb + Object + Verb + 了 + Duration: 我学汉语学了三年 (I studied Chinese for three years); (2) Placing the object after the duration: Verb + 了 + Duration + (的) + Object: 我学了三年的汉语.

Examples

1. 1

   我学了三年汉语。

   Wǒ xué le sān nián Hànyǔ.

   I studied Chinese for three years.

2. 2

   他每天工作八个小时。

   Tā měi tiān gōngzuò bā gè xiǎoshí.

   He works eight hours every day.

3. 3

   我休息了二十分钟。

   Wǒ xiūxi le èrshí fēnzhōng.

   I took a rest for twenty minutes.

4. 4

   她睡了八个小时。