Can someone please explain these three sentences?

[laughed]

Hi,

 

I found these three sentences in an Anki course, and am finding them incredibly confusing:

 

1. 我学英语学了4年了。(what's with the redundant second 学? generally, how does this work?)

 

2. 我买不起那个。

 

3. 他不再是以前的那个他了。

 

(the later two I fail to understand in terms of grammatical construction altogether)

 

I would sincerely appreciate it if someone could very kindly explain any one or all of these to me!

 

Thank You!!

[Hofmann]

1. The topic is 我學英語, a noun phrase "my learning English." Comment is 學了四年了. Both these 了 function differently. The first one is a perfective aspect particle and the second expresses a change of state.

2. 買起 is a verb and resultative complement. 買不起 is a verb phrase expressing not being able to buy.

3. Maybe breaking this down would help? 他 (subject) 不再是 (verb phrase) 以前的那个他 (noun phrase, object) 了 (modal particle). "He was no longer the 'he' form before."

[laughed]

THANK YOU!

[dementior]

my two cents I hope I do not confuse you...

 

1. you cant put together both the language of study and the complement for time together with only one instance of the verb, that is why the 学 needs to be repeated. The first 了 marks an action in the past and the second 了 marks that you are actually still studying (as opposed to not including this 了 which would mean you are not stuying anymore)

 

these constructions are also possible

 

我英语学了4年了 

 我学了4年的英语了

 

2. 买不起 is an example of a 可能补语 a potential complement, in this case it refers to you not being able to buy that one because you do not have enough money.

other examples would be 买不成，买不着，买不了，买不到

 

3. in this case the 了 expresses a change, to highlight the difference between the current person and what he/she used to be

[laughed]

THANK YOU AS WELL! NOT CONFUSING, COMPLIMENTARY.

[xiaoheiyang]

1. 我学英语学了4年了。

There are 2 different functions of 了. 

学了： 了 is ' verb +了', simply shows past tense.  

4年了：了 is ' sentence + 了。'  there are 3 basic meanings of this function. But in this sentence, it more emphasizes the present perfect tense.

 

I guess the writer wants to differ from the 2 functions.  学英语 is a verb + a noun phrase and we cannot add ‘verb + 了’ behind 英语 （the noun), so repeat 学 then add ‘verb + 了’ behind it.

 

2. 我买不起那个。

verb + 不起：one of the special usages of  potential complement. The meaning is cannot afford to do something. Positive form is verb + 得起, means somebody can afford something.

 这辆车太贵了，我买不起。但是，我的老板买得起。

 

3. 他不再是以前的那个他了。

subject 不再是+(noun phrase): subject is no more ....  it's a sentence pattern.

这个公司不再是那个小公司了。

她不再是我认识的那个人了。

 

了： is ' sentence + 了。'  and it`s another function to show a situation changed.