It is proposed that the functions of the Mandarin verbal suffix "-le" are three: (1) for marking non-continual factual actions or events; (2) for indicating the "peak" in an event line; and (3) for explicitly marking anteriority of an action or event. Observations of written language drawn from newspaper articles and editorials, textbook lessons, popularized historical tales, natural conversations, and student writing confirm the hypothesis as describing the underlying regularities, with some modifications. While action verbs in a phrase with a classical style are not compatible with this form, monosyllabic verbs require it. In addition, anteriority tends to be explicitly marked by "-le" when the verbs in the series of clauses are not cohesive enough to indicate such a natural sequence and/or when a special emphasis on the order of the events is called for. It is concluded that by comparison with previous work on the discourse function of "-le", the present analysis seems to be made on a more practical basis. (MSE)