了, 过 and 着: Chinese aspect markers explained

Chinese has no tenses. These mark the shape of an action instead: 了 it completed, 过 it has been experienced at some point, 着 it is ongoing or a state that persists.

Seen in these stories

Every sentence below comes from a free graded story you can read in full, with pinyin over each word.

• 我饿了。

  I am hungry.

  吃饭 Eating · HSK 1

• 水慢慢升上来了。

  The water slowly rose up.

  小鸟喝水 The Thirsty Bird · HSK 1

• 我常常站着。

  I often stand.

  坐公共汽车 Taking the Bus · HSK 1

• 菜很快就来了。

  The food came very quickly.

  在饭馆 At the Restaurant · HSK 1

• 朋友们都来了。

  All my friends came.

  生日 Birthday · HSK 1

• 我已经买好机票了。

  I have already bought my plane ticket.

  去北京 Going to Beijing · HSK 2

• 服务员认识我了。

  The waiter knows me now.

  在咖啡店 At the Coffee Shop · HSK 2

• 她今年十岁了。

  She is ten years old this year.

  生日快乐 Happy Birthday · HSK 2

• 现在我可以做几个菜了。

  Now I can make a few dishes.

  学做饭 Learning to Cook · HSK 2

• 我早上八点半就到了。

  I arrived at eight-thirty in the morning.

  去银行 Going to the Bank · HSK 2

• 等了一会儿,门开了。

  After waiting a little, the door opened.

  去银行 Going to the Bank · HSK 2

• 晚上我觉得好一点了。

  By evening I felt a bit better.

  看病 Visiting the Doctor · HSK 2