Everything you need to use aspect particles correctly: the patterns, when to use them, examples with audio, common mistakes and exercises with answers.
Chinese does not conjugate verbs for tense; particles mark aspect instead: 了 (completed), 正在 (in progress), 会 (will / know how to), 过 (have ever). Key patterns: Subject + Verb + 了 + Object; Subject + 正在 + Verb + (呢); Subject + 会 + Verb.
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Completion with 了 | S + V + 了 + O Subject + Verb + 了 + Object | 我吃饭了。 I have eaten. 了 goes after the verb or at the end of the sentence |
| Ongoing action with 正在 | S + 正在 + V + (呢) Subject + 正在 + Verb + (呢) | 我正在学习中文。 I am studying Chinese. You can use 在 or 正在, and add 呢 at the end for emphasis |
| Ability and future with 会 | S + 会 + V Subject + 会 + Verb | 我会说中文。 I can speak Chinese. 会 means either knowing how to do something or that it will happen |
Add 了 after the verb or at the end of the sentence
Put 正在/在 before the verb
会 before a verb says you know how to do it
Pick the right option, then open the answer to check it.
Options: 我会吃饭。 · 我吃饭了。 · 我在吃饭。 · 我想吃饭。
我吃饭了。. 了 marks an action as completed.
Options: 我会学习中文。 · 我学习了中文。 · 我常常学习中文。 · 我正在学习中文。
我正在学习中文。. 正在 + verb describes an action in progress.
Options: 我会说中文。 · 我正在说中文。 · 我说中文吗。 · 我说了中文。
我会说中文。. 会 expresses knowing how to do something.
Options: 中文学习正在我。 · 我中文正在学习。 · 我正在学习中文。 · 正在我中文学习。
我正在学习中文。. Pattern: Subject + 正在 + verb + object.
Options: 了 · 会 · 在 · 着
了. 了 after the verb marks a completed action: He went to Beijing.
Options: 了 · 在 · 着 · 过
过. 没 + V + 过 = have never done: I have never been to China.
Options: 了 · 在 · 着 · 过
着. V + 着 shows an ongoing state: The door is open.
Options: 了 · 正在 · 着 · 过
正在. 正在 + verb (+ 呢) marks an action in progress: We are eating, come on over.
Options: 了 · 在 · 着 · 过
了. The pattern 快要...了 says something is about to happen: The train is about to leave.
Options: 了 · 在 · 着 · 过
着. V1 + 着 + V2 shows the manner of the second action: She said "Hello!" with a smile.
Options: 了 · 在 · 着 · 过
了. Sentence-final 了 signals a new situation: Look, it has started raining!
Options: 我看着这个电影。 · 我看过这个电影。 · 我看这个过电影。 · 我过看这个电影。
我看过这个电影。. 过 goes right after the verb to mark past experience: I have seen this film before.
Options: 了 · 在 · 着 · 过
着. 躺着看 = watch lying down; 着 shows the posture during another action: He watches TV lying down.
Options: 了 · 在 · 着 · 过
了. The pattern 就要...了 says something is about to happen: We have an exam tomorrow.
Options: 他不去过上海。 · 他没去了上海。 · 他没去过上海。 · 他没过去上海。
他没去过上海。. Negating an experience: 没 + V + 过, never 不 or 了: He has never been to Shanghai.
Options: 在 · 正在 · 着 · 过
着. V + 着 + O describes an ongoing action: Listen, someone is singing outside.
Options: 我做作业正在。 · 我在做过作业。 · 我正在做了作业。 · 我正在做作业。
我正在做作业。. 正在 goes before the verb and does not combine with 了 or 过: I am doing my homework.
Options: 了 · 在 · 着 · 过
过. 从来没 + V + 过 = never before: I have never eaten this kind of fruit.
Options: 呢 · 的 · 着 · 过
呢. 正在...呢 stresses an action in progress: When the teacher came in, we were having class.
Options: 房间里的灯开着。 · 房间里的灯开过着。 · 房间里的灯正在开过。 · 房间里的灯着开。
房间里的灯开着。. V + 着 shows a lasting state, with 着 after the verb: The light in the room is on.
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