Repeated 了 and Placement of 的

[Thomill]

Hello,

As part of Rosetta Stone Level 3 Unit 2, I came up against the following.

我學音樂學了十五年了。

他們在澳洲住了五年了。

I am not sure why the 了 is repeated or what it signifies. In the same unit, I see:

他打高爾夫球打了十年了。

Again, the 了 repetition is unfamiliar as is why the verb 打 is also repeated.

This example combines both elements of my confusion!

你學中文學了多久了？我學中文學了七個月了。

Here, 學 is duplicated along with the 了 and I simply do not know why. I can infer the meaning, but the structure eludes me entirely.

Lastly, I am given this example:

我們是二十年以前結的婚。

But I do not understand why it would not be 我們是二十年以前結婚的。

I checked my usual grammar books without success. Any help would be appreciated.

[creamyhorror]

我們是二十年以前結的婚。

But I do not understand why it would not be 我們是二十年以前結婚的。

This is a usage of 的 which I have come across but find quite foreign.

First, understand that 結婚 is a verb+noun compound: you 結 a 婚 ("tie the marriage [knot]"). Knowing which compounds are v+n and which are n+n/other is something that takes some practice and exposure.

Then, learn that that in the 是...的 structure, the 的 may be moved to just after the verb (結, in this case), with the same meaning (apparently).

Therefore, you can say 我們是二十年以前結婚的 or 我們是二十年以前結的婚.

Finally, when the 的 is shifted to before the verb, my perception is that it becomes very similar to 了 semantically. For example, you can say 我們是二十年以前結的婚 or 我們是二十年以前結了婚, and I'd not pick up a major difference. In fact, I suspect that in certain regions, 的/了 may have become associated or somewhat interchangeable in this shifted usage because of their similar sound in Mandarin. I don't think it would have happened in southern regions since 的 and 了 seem quite distinct in those dialects, so I think the blurring is a Northern thing. But I could be wrong about any or all of this (anyone who knows more, please let me know).

[陳德聰]

Subject (+ Verb + Object) + Verb + 了 + Amount of Time + 了

Just a way of expressing duration.

As for the 是...的 construction and 了... I don't feel that they are that blurry really... I don't know that I would say 是...了 the way I would say 是...的 =T

If I compare the two sentences

我们是二十年以前结的婚

我们二十年以前结了婚

Even though the translation is probably the same no matter how you swing it "We got married 20 years ago"... I feel the difference is still pretty distinct. I don't know if that's just me... I feel like the focal point is totally different for the two sentences. The first one the time phrase modifies the marriage whereas the second one the time phrase is just an adverbial addition to the sentence with focus still on the action of getting married.

[大肚男]

Check out a lesson of Popup Chinese called "Guitar Hero" they explain the repeated 了 as a construction similar to "have been -ing" in English. It is used when a verb started in the past and continues. Hope this helps

[WestTexas]

你學中文學了多久了？我學中文學了七個月了。

These sentences seem very textbooky to me, anyone else agree?

[Tiana]

你學中文學了多久了？我學中文學了七個月了。

These sentences seem very textbooky to me, anyone else agree?

Yes, but that is I think due to the repetition of 學, and not of 了. Try this and see if it sounds better:

- 你中文學了多久了？

- (我中文)學了七個月了。

[Thomill]

Thank you very much for your assistance!

[Shei]

The double 了 means that the action has still not been completed.

Example:

我學中文 = I learn Chinese.

我學了七個月 = I studied for seven months (and no more).

我學了七個月了 = I have been studying for seven months and I am still studying.

[Guest realmayo]

Today I came across a 奇了怪了 which I don't remember hearing before.

[skylee]

Emphasis, something like 奇哉怪也, 的而且確.