已经……了
already
Structure
主语 + 已经 + 动词／形容词 + 了
What it means
已经 means “already”: something has happened or a change has come. 他已经回家了 “He’s already gone home.”
How it is built
Subject + 已经 + verb／adjective (or a time) + 了: 已经十点了 (It’s already ten). The 了 is the 了 of a change you met in h1-5.
When to use it
The sentence almost always ends with 了. For “long ago, for ages”, use 早就……了: 我早就吃了. For “not yet”, use 还没: 还没吃.
Watch out
The negative drops both 已经 and 了. ✗ 我已经没吃。 ✓ 我还没吃。
Examples
他已经回家了。
He’s already gone home.
已经十点了，快睡觉吧！
It’s already ten. Off to bed!
我已经习惯了。
I’m used to it now.
Learn this in HSK 2 · Lesson 8: 我每天十点睡觉 (Daily rhythm)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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