Modifying Particles (ba, de, le, etc.)

Would someone mind helping me to understand the meanings/uses of these modifying particles? I know that "de" is used when describing a noun such as "piaoliang de hua" for beautiful flower. Also, I have heard that "le" denotes when something is past tense such as "chi le" for "eaten." Beyond that, I am somewhat confused as to the meanings. Thank you!

Hi there! It is true that "ba", "de", "le" are all particles, but they have different grammatical functions and are used in different types of sentences. "de" is a modifying particles. As you have already said, it is used between a descriptive word and a noun, just to give some modification (or in other words, description) about the noun. It can sometimes be omitted. I wouldn't call "ba" and "le" modifying particles though, as they are not actually modifying. Remembering them in that category, you will just get yourself confused. "Ba" appears at the end of sentences, introducing a suggestion. You can use it at the end of a normal statement, and change the statement into a suggestion. For example. "Women qu gongyuan" is just a positive sentence, meanig "We'll go to the park". If you add "ba" to the end of it, "Women qu gongyuan ba", then you mean "we go to the park, that's my suggestion". Thus the sentence can be translated into "let's go to the park". So whenever you see "ba" at the end of the sentence, just take the whole sentence prior to "ba" as the suggestion of the person talking. I think it would be easier for you to understand the meaning and usage of "le" by taking it as a suffix after the action word. It is like "-ed" in English, indicating that the action happened in the past. Note their different positions in sentences though. "Le" is mostly used at the end of a sentence, whereas "-ed" appears right behind the action word. Hope that helps..