Perfective aspect
17.1(specifier) + number + classifier + noun我看了(这)两本书。
我看了(這)兩本書。
Wǒ kàn le (zhè) liǎng běn shū.
I read (these) two books.
(number + classifier +) description phrase + noun我吃了(一碗)牛肉面。
我吃了(一碗)牛肉麵。
Wǒ chī le (yī wǎn) niúròu miàn.
I ate (a bowl of) beef noodles.
我借了他的车。
我借了他的車。
Wǒ jiè le tā de chē.
I borrowed his car.C7, 8, 917.1.1.2 Stating that an action does not or has not happened
Perfective 了 le only occurs in affirmative sentences, never in negative sentences. This is because
it signals that an action is viewed as a complete, bounded event. Actions that do not happen
can never be seen as complete or bounded.
To indicate that an action does not happen, negate the action verb with 不 bù.
他不吃早饭。
他不吃早飯。
Tā bù chī zǎofàn.
He does not eat breakfast.
To indicate that an action has not happened, negate the ENTIRE action verb phrase with 没/沒
méi, or 没/沒有 méi yǒu. If the action includes a prepositional phrase, 没/沒 méi precedes
the prepositional phrase.他没吃早饭。
他沒吃早飯。
Tā méi chī zǎofàn.
He did not eat breakfast.
我没给他打电话。
我沒給他打電話。
Wǒ méi gěi tā dǎ diànhuà.
I did not phone him.C13.3.2, 27.1.2, 37.317.1.1.3 Asking whether actions are complete
To ask whether an action is complete, use a 吗/嗎 question or a verb-not-verb yes–no question
as follows.
你吃饭了吗？
你吃飯了嗎？
Nǐ chī fàn le ma?
Have you eaten?
你吃饭了没有？
你吃飯了沒有？
Nǐ chī fàn le méi yǒu?
Have you eaten?