Help! - 了

thecomakid
 December 06, 2009, 04:51 AM posted in General Discussion

Apologies in advance because this question must have been answered many times before, but I've searched through all the relevant QingWen lessons to no avail so any help on the following would be really appreciated.

Which of the following sentences is correct?

今天早上我喝了一杯咖啡， 吃了两个包子。

今天早上我喝一杯咖啡，吃两个包子了。

Can only one be correct or are they both correct but with different emphasis in each sentence?

Many thanks for any help on this one.  

 

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pchenery
 December 06, 2009, 05:21 AM

It seems to me that the first sentence is correct, with and without the 了

今天早上我喝了一杯咖啡， 吃了两个包子 = This morning, I drank a cup of coffee and ate two steamed buns

今天早上我喝一杯咖啡， 吃两个包子 = This morning, I will drink a cup of coffee and eat two steamed buns

The 了 in the first sentence indicates that the action of drinking and eating has been completed.

CPOD, correct me if I'm mistaken.

Thanks.

 

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connie
 December 07, 2009, 02:48 AM

@ thecomakid

The first sentence is correct.

今天早上我喝了一杯咖啡， 吃了两个包子。

The 了 in the first sentence indicates that the action has been completed.

 

@ pchenery

你说的对！