V 了 + object/complement marks completed event/perfective viewpoint: the action happened.
Perfective event view - action is realized as bounded event
Narrative progression tool - moves storyline forward
Widespread core grammar marker - foundational in Mandarin aspect system
See examples below for varied real-world usage.
了 is aspectual, not pure past tense marker
- It marks event boundedness/completion.
Position and sentence type matter
- Clause-final 了 has different function from verb-adjacent 了.
Do not force 了 in all past contexts
- Context and discourse role determine usage.
I watched that movie.
He bought a new computer.
We completed testing.
She replied to the email.
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