刚才你去哪儿了

Gāngcái nǐ qù nǎr le

Where Did You Go Just Now?

Pattern 1

[Subject] + [Verb] + 了 + [Quantified Object/Modifier]

[Zhǔyǔ] + [Dòngcí] + le + [Tànyǔ]

The aspect particle '了' placed immediately after the verb indicates the realization or completion of an action. The object usually takes numerals, measure words or modifying attributes.

Examples

她买了三件衬衣、两条裙子，还有一顶帽子。

Tā mǎile sān jiàn chènyī, liǎng tiáo qúnzi, hái yǒu yì dǐng màozi.

She bought three shirts, two skirts, and a hat.

Pattern 2

[Subject] + 没(有) + [Verb] + [Object] (Negative completed aspect)

[Zhǔyǔ] + méi(yǒu) + [Dòngcí] + [Tànyǔ]

Negative form of completed action. Add '没' or '没有' before the verb and omit '了'. If an action is expected but hasn't occurred yet, use '还没(有)……呢'.

Examples

我没买东西，直美买了。

Wǒ méi mǎi dōngxi, Zhíměi mǎi le.

I didn't buy anything; Zhimei did.

Pattern 3

[Action] + 了没有？ / [Action] + 了吗？ (Completion question)

[Hángdòng] + le méiyǒu? / [Hángdòng] + le ma?

Affirmative-negative question asking whether an action has been completed. Both '……了没有？' and '……了吗？' are common in spoken Chinese.

Examples

你们去颐和园了没有？ —— 还没去呢。

Nǐmen qù Yíhéyuán le méiyǒu? —— Hái méi qù ne.

Have you been to the Summer Palace yet? —— Not yet.

Pattern 4

[Action 1] + 了 + 就 + [Action 2]

[Hángdòng 1] + le + jiù + [Hángdòng 2]

Indicates two actions happening in immediate succession: as soon as the first action is completed, the second action begins immediately.

Examples

我下了课就给他打电话。

Wǒ xiàle kè jiù gěi tā dǎ diànhuà.

As soon as I finish class, I'll give him a call.

Pattern 5

那还用说！ (Colloquial exclamation)

Nà hái yòng shuō!

Popular spoken idiom meaning 'That goes without saying!' or 'Of course!', affirming something strongly and naturally.

Examples

你请他吃北京烤鸭了吗？ —— 那还用说。

Nǐ qǐng tā chī Běijīng kǎoyā le ma? —— Nà hái yòng shuō.

Did you treat him to Beijing roast duck? —— That goes without saying!

Pattern 6

抽时间 + [Action]

Chōu shíjiān + [Hángdòng]

To find or carve out time from a busy schedule to do something ('find some time to...').

Examples

听说小雨病了。咱们抽时间去看看他吧。

Tīngshuō Xiǎoyǔ bìng le. Zánmen chōu shíjiān qù kànkan tā ba.

I heard Xiaoyu is sick. Let's find some time to go visit him.