Chinese Grammar Bank
HOW TO USE 过
This lesson is one you don’t want to miss. We’ll teach you how to use 过 in relation with past experiences.
过 (guò) is used to indicate that an action has been experienced in the past.
USING 过 WITH VERBS
This is the most basic way of using 过 (guò) to show that the verb (action) mentioned has been done or has ever happened.
过 (guò), unlike 了(le), emphasises that the verb (action) has been experienced.
过 (guò) can be understood in the sense of “have ever”.
Note that some verbs can’t be followed by 过: 知道 (zhīdao), 以为 (yǐwéi), 在 (zài), 认为 (rènwéi).
PATTERN
Subject + Verb + 过 (+ Object)
他们学过中文。
They have (ever) studied Chinese.我们来过这个地方。
We’ve been to this place (before).View More Phrases
| chinese | pinyin | english |
|---|---|---|
| 今天我去过一家新的餐厅。 | jīntiān wǒ qùguò yījiā xīn de cāntīng. | I went to a new restaurant today. |
| 我已经看过。 | wǒ yǐjīng kànguò. | I have already seen it. |
| 我以前去过南非很多次。 | wǒ yǐqián qùguò nánfēi hěnduō cì. | I have been to South Africa multiple times before. |
| 我去过香港。 | wǒ qùguò xiānggǎng. | I’ve been to Hong Kong. |
THE NEGATION OF 过
Since 过 (guò) refers to events that happened in the past, 没 (méi) is used to negate it. 没有 (méi yǒu) can be used here for emphasis.
You can also used 从来没有 (cóng lái méi yǒu) or 从来没 (cóng lái méi) to emphasise that something has never happened.
This negative form can be understand as “have never”.
Structure #1
Subject + 没 + Verb + 过 (+ Object)
Structure #2
Subject + 从来没有 + Verb + 过 (+ Object)
我没学过这个语法。
I’ve never studied this grammar.我没看过这本书。
I’ve never read this book.View More Phrases
| chinese | pinyin | english |
|---|---|---|
| 他没去过欧洲。 | tā méi qùguò ōuzhōu. | He has never been to Europe. |
| 他从来没吃过这么辣的菜。 | tā cónglái méi chīguò zhème là de cài. | He has never eaten a dish this spicy (before). |
| 我没吃过日本菜。 | wǒ méi chīguò rìběn cài. | I’ve never eaten Japanese food. |
| 你没见过他吗？ | nǐ méi jiànguò tā ma? | Haven’t you seen him? |
| 妈妈从来没有这么生气过。 | māmā cónglái méiyǒu zhème shēngqìguò | Mom has never been this angry (before). |
USING 过 WITH 了
过 (guò) is used with 了 (le) when talking about every day behaviours or actions to emphasise that something has happened already and indicate a change of state.
Here, the object may or may not be present in the sentence.
PATTERN
Subject + Verb + 过 (+ Object) + 了
| chinese | pinyin | english |
|---|---|---|
| 我看过了。 | wǒ kànguòle. | I’ve seen it. OR I have read it. |
| 我们见过面了。 | wǒmen jiànguò miànle. | We’ve (already) met. |
| 我吃过了。 | wǒ chīguòle. | I’ve already eaten. |
| 他们吃过药了. | tāmen chīguò yàole. | They have taken medicine (already). |
USING 过 IN A QUESTION
There are multiple ways to form a question with 过 to ask if something has been experienced before.
过 can be used in question forms of 吗, 有没有, 怎么, Verb…没有, among others.
你吃过药了吗？
Have you taken medicine?他有没有去过非洲？
Has he ever been to Africa?View More Phrases
| chinese | pinyin | english |
|---|---|---|
| 你吃过猪肉没有？ | nǐ chīguò zhūròu méiyǒu? | Have you ever eaten pork? |
| 你怎么没说过呢？ | nǐ zěnme méi shuōguò ne? | Why didn’t you say that (before)? |
| 他洗过澡了吗？ | tā xǐguò zǎole ma? | Has he showered (already)? |
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FAQs
What does 过 mean?
过 is an aspect particle used to show that an action has been experienced in the past. You can look at it as loosely meaning “have ever”.
What are some examples of 过 in a sentence?
– 他学过中文。tā xuéguò zhōngwén. He has studied Chinese.
– 他从来没吃过这么辣的菜。tā cónglái méi chīguò zhème là de cài. He has never eaten a dish this spicy.
– 他没去过欧洲。tā méi qùguò ōuzhōu. He has never been to Europe.
– 你吃过药了吗？nǐ chīguò yàole ma? Have you taken medicine?
What other aspect particles are there?
The three most common aspect particles in Chinese are: 过, 了 and 着. Since Chinese doesn’t conjugate its verbs to show tense, aspect particles are added to verbs to show what point in time an event occurs.
过: Used to show that an event has happened in the past.
了: Used to express the completion of an action.
着: Used to show continuation of an action.
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