Usage of 了 1. Verb+了 了 follows a verb to indicate that an action has been completed For example: 玛mǎ丽lì唱chàng了le一yī首shǒu中zhōng国guó民mín歌gē。 (Mary sang a Chinese folk song.) 中zhōng午wǔ我wǒ们men喝hē了le五wǔ瓶píng啤pí酒jiǔ。 （We drank five bottles of beer at noon.） 2. Verb1+了+Verb2 了 follows the first verb. The whole structure means that the second action will not begin until the first is completed. For example: 晚wǎn上shang吃chī了le饭fàn去qù逛guàng街jiē。 （Let's go shopping after dinner.） 妈mā妈mā买mǎi了le东dōng西xī就jiù回huí家jiā。 （Mum went home after she finished shopping.） Hope this could help some Chinese learner, if there's any question pls feel free to contact with me. :D