Difference between revisions of "Expressing experiences with "guo""

Revision as of 04:19, 5 February 2012

The aspect particle 过 is used to indicate that an action has been experienced in the past.

Basic Pattern

The structure is:

Subject + Verb + 过 + Object

What this expresses is that the verb has been done at least once before, without specifying a particular time. 过 is used to talk about whether something has ever happened - whether it has been experienced.

Examples

Some examples of how 过 is typically used:

我去过中国。
他吃过小笼包。
你看过那个人吗？

Negating a 过 sentence

Because 过 is used to talk about past actions, it should be negated with 没. The structure is:

Subject + 没 + Verb + 过 + Object

Some examples:

我没去过中国。
他没听过这首歌。
你没尝过这种啤酒。

Using 过 with 了

You'll sometimes see 过 used together with 了. This can be a little confusing, as it doesn't seeing to be following the rules laid out above. For more on this special usage of 过, see the article on using 过 with 了.

Sources and further reading

Books

A Practical Chinese Grammar For Foreigners (外国人实用汉语语法) (pp. 138) →buy
Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (pp. 59-60) →buy
Chinese Grammar Without Tears (简明汉语语法学习手册) (pp. 73-4) →buy
Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1 (pp. 345-7) →buy
Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2 (pp. 49-51) →buy
Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 76-7, 230-2) →buy
New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2) (pp. 175-6) →buy

Websites

ChinesePod: Qing Wen - 过(guo) (free podcast content)

@@ Line 57: / Line 57: @@
 * [[Chinese Grammar Without Tears (简明汉语语法学习手册) ]] (pp. 73-4) [http://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B0041UGAJU&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B0041UGAJU →buy]
 * [[Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1]] (pp. 345-7) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276792/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276792 →buy]
+* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2]] (pp. 49-51) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276881/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0887276881 →buy]
 * [[Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide]] (pp. 76-7, 230-2) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415700108?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0415700108 →buy]
 * [[New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2)]] (pp. 175-6) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561911297/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561911297 →buy]