Completion Tracker Worksheet Completion Tracker
Lesson 1: Completed Action (Verb + 了)
Student
Date
The "Action-Aspect" Logic
In Mandarin, verbs don't change for tense. Instead, we use the particle 了 (le) directly after the verb to show that an action is completed.
Habitual / General
我吃苹果。
Wǒ chī píngguǒ.
I eat apples. (In general)
Completed Action
我吃了苹果。
Wǒ chīle píngguǒ.
I ate the apple. (Finished!)
1 Spot the Finished Action
Circle the sentences that indicate an action has already happened.
妈妈喝茶。
Māma hē chá.
我看了一个电影。
Wǒ kànle yīgè diànyǐng.
他买书。
Tā mǎi shū.
妹妹写了作业。
Mèimei xiěle zuòyè.
2 Finish the Action
Rewrite the following general actions into completed actions using 了.
1. 我买手机。 (I buy a phone.)
I bought a phone.
2. 爸爸做饭。 (Dad cooks a meal.)
Dad cooked a meal.
3. 弟弟喝牛奶。 (Little brother drinks milk.)
Little brother drank milk.
4. 老师说话。 (The teacher speaks.)
The teacher spoke.
Finished Business Slides Mandarin Grammar Series
Finished Business
Understanding Completion with Verb + 了
Lesson 1
"It's not about when, it's about being done."
The "Snapshot" Test
我喝咖啡。
"I drink coffee."
General Habit
我喝了咖啡。
"I drank the coffee."
Action Completed
Does the cup have coffee in it? Left: YES | Right: NO (Finished!)
Aspect vs. Tense
English (Tense)
The verb itself changes to show TIME.
Eat Ate
Mandarin (Aspect)
The verb NEVER changes. We add markers to show STATUS.
吃 了
Golden Rule
"了" indicates that the action is finished, regardless of whether it happened yesterday or just now.
The Completion Formula
S
Subject
V
Verb
了
le
O
Object
我买了书。
I bought a book.
弟弟喝了水。
Little brother drank water.
Fast Recap
QUIZ
01
Does 了 go before or after the verb to show completion?
Before
After
02
Which sentence means "I finished my homework"?
我写作业。 (Wǒ xiě zuòyè.) General
我写了作业。 (Wǒ xiěle zuòyè.) Completed
Aspect Insights Teacher Guide Aspect Insights
Teacher's Guide: Lesson 1 & 2 Core Concepts
Grade Level
11th
The Conceptual Shift
The biggest hurdle for English-speaking students is unlearning the habit of looking for tense (Past, Present, Future). In Mandarin, the focus is Aspect: Is the action ongoing, finished, or starting?
Key Framing:
"Don't ask 'When did it happen?' Ask 'Is it over yet?'"
Structure 1: Completion (Verb + 了)
1 Placement: Immediately following the verb. S + V + 了 + O.
2 Nuance: Indicates the "attainment" of the action. Useful for facts, history, or specific finished tasks.
3 Trap: Remind students that 了 is NOT a past tense marker. One can use it for future completion (e.g., "After I've finished eating...").
Structure 2: Change of State (Sentence + 了)
When 了 sits at the end of the sentence, it signals a new situation .
Static
下雨 (It rains)
New State
下雨了 (It's raining [now!])
Classroom Hooks
The Polaroids
Show a series of "Before/After" photos. Ask students to shout "了" only when they see the "After" photo.
The Weather Update
Ask: "Are you hungry?" vs "Are you hungry *now* (but weren't before)?" Compare 饿 vs 饿了.
Common Pitfalls
Students saying "我喜欢了那个电影" (I liked that movie). Remind them: Feelings/States rarely take 了.
Forgetting that "No/Didn't" sentences (没有) never use 了.
Pacing Note
Don't combine completion and change of state in the first 20 minutes. Keep them physically distinct (Middle of sentence vs. End of sentence) to build muscle memory.
Facilitation Questions
"How would you explain the difference between 'I eat' and 'I ate' to someone who only has one verb for both?"
"Can you think of a situation where you might use 了 to describe something that hasn't happened yet?" (e.g., future conditional)
"Why is 'I'm tall now' (我高了) more interesting than 'I am tall' (我很高)?"
Shifting State Slides 了
了
了
The Shifting State
Everything
Changes
Understanding Change of State with Sentence-Final 了
Lesson 2
"New Situation, New Grammar"
The "Now" vs. "Before"
Fact / Static
不下雨。
"It is not raining."
Description of current reality.
CHANGE!
New Situation
下雨了！
"It's raining (now)!"
Implicit: It wasn't raining a moment ago.
The "Status Update"
In English, we use words like "now", "already", or "not anymore".
In Mandarin, 了 at the end of the sentence covers all of these!
Examples:
好了。 "It's ready (now)."
我不去了。 "I'm not going anymore."
The Power of Position
A
Post-Verb 了
我喝了水。
Focus: Completion
The act of drinking is finished. The glass is likely empty.
B
Sentence-Final 了
我喝水了。
Focus: Change of State
"I am drinking water now (e.g., after being thirsty)." It marks the start of a new behavior.
In many cases, they overlap. But sentence-final 了 is your best friend for Context.
Grammar in Action: How are you?
我不舒服。
"I'm not feeling well."
Description
Time Passes
我好了！
"I'm better (now)!"
NEW STATE
Identify the Change:
春天到了。 "Spring has arrived (it wasn't spring before)."
他太高了！ "He's gotten too tall! (Surprise at the change)."
Negative Change
我不吃肉。
"I don't eat meat."
+ 了
我不吃肉了。
"I don't eat meat anymore."
Essential Skill:
Use 不...了 to show a habit or state has stopped.
Status Update Cards Activity Status Update Cards
Lesson 2: Change of State Practice Activity
Group Activity / Discussion
How to Use These Cards
1. The Contrast Task:
For each scenario, first state the "Before" (fact) and then the "After" (change) using 了.
2. The "Status Update":
Translate the English phrase into a natural Mandarin sentence-final 了 structure.
01
Weather Shift
Scenario: It was sunny a minute ago, but now you see drops on the window.
Say it in Mandarin:
下雨了。
02
Dietary Change
Scenario: You used to drink coffee every morning, but you stopped yesterday.
Say it in Mandarin:
我不喝咖啡了。
03
Skill Attained
Scenario: You couldn't speak Mandarin last year, but now you can!
Say it in Mandarin:
我会说中文了。
04
State Transition
Scenario: Your phone was dead (0%), but now it is at 100%.
Say it in Mandarin:
手机有电了 / 好了。
05
Seasonal Change
Scenario: The leaves are turning red and the air is getting crisp.
Say it in Mandarin:
秋天来了。
06
Physical Sensation
Scenario: It's 1:00 PM and you haven't eaten lunch yet.
Say it in Mandarin:
我饿了。
Remember: If you can add "now" or "already" to the English sentence, you probably need 了 at the end of the Mandarin sentence.
Chain Reaction Slides Narrative Construction
Chain
Reaction
Sequencing Completed Events with 了
Step A Step B Done
Linking Finished Actions
In a story, we often need to say:
The Rule
Use 了 after the first verb to show it must be finished before the next one starts.
1
我下了课...
"I finished class..."
2
就去食堂。
"...then went to the cafeteria."
Timeline Construction
买了
Bought
喝了
Drank
走了
Left
Narrative Example
昨天，我买了咖啡，喝了咖啡，然后走了。
"Yesterday, I bought coffee, drank coffee, and then left."
Notice: 昨天 sets the time. 了 sets the completion of each distinct step.
The "Daily Log" Challenge
English Draft
Woke up at 7:00.
Ate breakfast.
Went to school.
Met friends.
Mandarin Version
我七点起床了。
我吃了早饭。
我去学校了。
我见了朋友。
*Note: When the object is simple (like "breakfast"), the 了 often migrates to the end of the clause. This is a stylistic nuance we'll explore in the workshop!
Investigation Time
A crime was committed at 3:00 PM. We need your timeline.
Current Task
Police Report Activity
Police Report Activity Worksheet Police Report
Case #2026-LE-003 | Timeline Investigation
Investigating Officer
Date of Report
The Incident
At exactly 4:30 PM, a valuable diamond was stolen from the Language Lab. You were seen in the building between 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM. To clear your name, you must provide a detailed sequence of everything you finished doing during those two hours.
Available Evidence (Verb Bank)
去 (qù)
to go
看 (kàn)
to look/watch
喝 (hē)
to drink
买 (mǎi)
to buy
见 (jiàn)
to meet
做 (zuò)
to do
吃 (chī)
to eat
写 (xiě)
to write
The Timeline (Use 了 to show completion)
3:00 PM
Example: 我进（了）实验室。
3:15 PM
3:45 PM
4:30 PM
CRIME TIME
5:00 PM
Final Statement (Full Sentence Narrative)
Combine your timeline into one long narrative using 了 to sequence each action. (e.g. "I finished X, then I did Y...")
Failure to correctly use the completion particle le will result in the immediate rejection of your alibi.
The Le Trap Slides Caution: Grammar Zone Caution: Grammar Zone Caution: Grammar Zone
Mastery Level
The
Le Trap
When NOT to use the particle 了
"Stop over-using it. Just because it happened in the past doesn't mean it's 'le'."
Habit vs. Completion
In English, "I ate" and "I used to eat" are both past tense.
The Forbidden Zone
If an action was a habit (every day, often, usually) in the past, DO NOT use 了.
Correct Habit
我以前每天看书。
"I used to read every day." (No 了!)
The Trap!
我以前每天看了书。
Wait! "Every day" is a habit. Delete the 了!
Emotions & States
Psychological Verbs
Love, hate, like, want, fear...
我喜欢他。
"I liked him (then)."
NEVER: 我喜欢了他。
Stative Verbs
To be at (在), to be (是), to have (有)...
我在家。
"I was at home."
NEVER: 我在了家。
Grammar Police
STRIKE 1
STRIKE 2
Find the 'le' that shouldn't be there:
我每天吃了三个苹果。
"I used to eat three apples every day."
TRAP!
那个电影很漂亮了。
"That movie was beautiful."
TRAP!
The Forbidden List
Habitual Actions
Words like 每天, 常常, 以前.
Negative Sentences
No 了 in 'Didn't' (没有) sentences.
Emotions / States
Descriptions of feelings or conditions.
Continuous Existence
To be (是) or to be at (在).
Conclusion: Only use 了 for discrete finished actions or sudden changes.
Grammar Police Worksheet Grammar Police: Spot the Error
Lesson 4: Eliminating the Habitual 'Le'
Case File: 404-Aspect
Rules of Engagement
1. Habit Trap
If the sentence contains 每天 (every day) or 常常 (often), delete the 了.
2. Feeling Trap
If the verb is an emotion or state (喜欢, 想, 觉得), delete the 了.
Suspect Sentence 01
我去年每天看了中文书。
"I read Chinese books every day last year."
GUILTY
Correction:
Rewrite the correct sentence here...
Suspect Sentence 02
我昨天去了商店，买了一杯茶。
"Yesterday I went to the store and bought a cup of tea."
INNOCENT?
Verdict & Reason:
Is this sentence correct? Why or why not?
Suspect Sentence 03
那个时候，我不想了去学校。
"At that time, I didn't want to go to school."
GUILTY
Correction:
Suspect Sentence 04
我们以前常常一起玩儿了。
"We often used to play together."
GUILTY
Correction:
The Master Trap:
"I was a student for four years." (我在学校了四年。) — Correct or Incorrect?
Hint: Look at the verb 'to be at' (在).
Narrative Nexus Slides Final Synthesis
Narrative
Nexus
Crafting stories that move through time with 了.
Workshop 05
The Silent Film Challenge
The Objective
"Watch a short film without sound. Retell the story using everything you've learned about 了."
Mark Completion of plot points.
Signal Changes in situation.
Avoid the Habit Traps.
Video Placeholder
The teacher will provide the link for today's short film (e.g., 'The Present' or 'One Man Band').
Your Script Formula
Phase 1: Setup
Describe the character's general habits or the background.
Rule:
NO 了 here! Just descriptions.
Phase 2: Action
Tell us what they finished doing in the sequence.
Rule:
Use Verb + 了 to move the plot.
Phase 3: Change
How is the situation different at the end?
Rule:
Use Sentence + 了 for the "Aha!" moment.
Nexus Rubric
40%
Accuracy (Aspect)
Did you use 了 only for finished actions? Did you correctly signal changes of state?
30%
Flow (Chain Reaction)
Is the story easy to follow? Did you sequence actions logically using time markers and aspect markers?
30%
The "Le" Trap Safety
Did you successfully avoid using 了 with habits, feelings, or background descriptions?
Action!
It's time to weave your narrative nexus. Good luck, storytellers.
Start Scripting
Silent Script Storyboard Template The Silent Script
Lesson 5 Workshop: Narrative Storyboard & Project Guide
Student
1. Film Observation
Watch the silent film twice. On the first pass, identify the **Key Change** (How did things start vs. how did they end?). On the second pass, note down at least **five finished actions** that move the story forward.
2. Drafting Checklist
Background description (No 了)
At least 5 Action points (Verb + 了)
Final Resolution / Change (Sentence + 了)
Narrative Storyboard
Sketch Scene 1 (The State)
Background & Description (State/Habit)
Target Grammar: No 'le' here (Descriptions, like, want, etc.)
Sketch Scene 2 (First Action)
Action A (Completion)
Target Grammar: [Subject] + [Verb] + 了 + [Object]
Sketch Scene 3 (Next Action)
Action B (Completion)
Sketch Scene 4 (The Change)
Resolution & Final Change (New State)
Target Grammar: [Sentence] + 了 (Things are different now!)
Final Story Retelling Min 8 Sentences
Script Finish Line
Completion
V + 了
Change
S...了
Trap Avoidance
No Habits
