Negation of past actions with "meiyou"
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\r\nUse 没有 (méiyǒu) to negate past actions (to say that someone didn't do something, or something didn't happen).\r\n== Structure ==\r\nUsually verbs can be negated with 不, but that construction is used for habitual or present actions. If the verb is about an action in the past, though, 没有 should be used:\r\n
\r\nSubject + 没有 + Verb\r\n
\r\n== Examples ==\r\n
\r\n* 我 没有 去 酒吧。I didn't go to a bar.
- 他们 没有 说话。They didn't speak.
- 我 没有 喝 你的 啤酒。I didn't drink your beer.
- 她 没有 看到 你。I didn't see you.
- 我 没有 吃 早饭。I didn't eat breakfast.
- 昨天 我 没有 睡觉。Yesterday I didn't sleep.
- 我 没有 买 水果。I haven't bought fruit.
- 我 太太 没有 做 饭。My wife didn't cook dinner.
- 宝宝 没有 哭。The baby didn't cry.
- 你 没有 生病。You have not been sick.
- 我 没有 学习 中文。I haven't studied Chinese.\r\n
\r\nNote that you can shorten 没有 to just 没:\r\n
\r\n* 我 没 去 酒吧。I didn't go to bar.
他们 没 说话。They didn't speak.
我 没 喝 你的 啤酒。I didn't drink your beer.
她 没 看到 你。I didn't see you.
我 没 吃 早饭。I didn't eat breakfast.
昨天 我 没 睡觉。Yesterday I didn't sleep.
我 没 买 水果。I haven't bought fruit.
我 太太 没 做 饭。My wife didn't cook dinner.
宝宝 没 哭。The baby didn't cry.
你 没 生病。You have not been sick.
我 没 学习 中文。I haven't studied Chinese.\r\n
\r\nRemember that 了 is not used with 没有. 了 marks completed actions, whilst 没有 is used for actions that didn't happen. These two don't work together. This is a very common mistake for Chinese beginners, so be sure to be attentive to it.\r\n==See also==
