Vietnamese 'đã' Usage (already)
'đã' is commonly used to indicate that an action has already happened.
Quick explanation
Quick explanation
'đã' is commonly used to indicate that an action has already happened.
English meanings
- already
Grammar pattern
Examples
1
Tôi đã ăn cơm.
I have already eaten.
2
Cô ấy đã về nhà.
She has already gone home.
How to use it
'đã' marks that an event has occurred before the current time or is completed. It differs from the English equivalent of 'le' by focusing on prior occurrence or completion rather than change of state. For new states, 'rồi' may be more natural.
- Basic structure: subject + đã + verb.
- 'đã' can co-occur with 'rồi' but they have different functions.
- Questions about completion often use 'đã ... chưa'.
Compared with English
Compared with English
English uses 'already' before the verb or at the end; Vietnamese 'đã' is placed before the verb. 'rồi' often appears at the end to emphasize a new state.
Common mistakes
Tôi ăn cơm đã.
Tôi đã ăn cơm.
'đã' usually precedes the verb, not placed at the end.
Tôi đã ở Hà Nội rồi ba năm.
Tôi đã ở Hà Nội ba năm rồi.
For durations continuing to the present, 'rồi' is placed at the end to indicate current state.
Commonly confused grammar
Practice
Multiple choice
Which sentence naturally means "I have already eaten"?
Show answer
Multiple choice
Which sentence naturally means "I have already eaten"?
- Tôi đã ăn cơm.
- Tôi ăn đã cơm.
- Tôi ăn cơm đã.
Answer: Tôi đã ăn cơm.
Explanation: 'đã' is placed before the verb 'ăn'.
Fill in the blank
Fill in the blank: Tôi ____ ăn cơm.
Show answer
Fill in the blank
Fill in the blank: Tôi ____ ăn cơm.
Answer: Tôi đã ăn cơm.
Explanation: Basic structure: subject + đã + verb.
English to Vietnamese
Translate "I have already eaten." into Vietnamese.
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English to Vietnamese
Translate "I have already eaten." into Vietnamese.
Answer: Tôi đã ăn cơm.
Explanation: Use đã in the same structure as the example.
True or false
Is this sentence correct? Tôi ăn cơm đã.
Show answer
True or false
Is this sentence correct? Tôi ăn cơm đã.
Answer: False
Explanation: 'đã' usually precedes the verb, not placed at the end.
Correction
Correct this sentence: Anh ấy đi đã làm.
Show answer
Correction
Correct this sentence: Anh ấy đi đã làm.
Answer: Anh ấy đã đi làm.
Explanation: 'đã' should be placed before the verb phrase.