Difference between revisions of "Expressing experiences with "guo""
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The [[aspect particle]] 过 (guò) is used to indicate that an '''action has been experienced''' in the past.  
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The [[aspect particle]] 过 (guo) is used to indicate that an '''action has been experienced''' in the past.  
  
 
== Basic Pattern ==
 
== Basic Pattern ==
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What this expresses is that the verb ''has been'' done at least once before, without specifying a particular time. 过 (guò) is used to talk about whether something has ''ever'' happened - whether it ''has been experienced''.
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What this expresses is that the verb ''has been'' done at least once before, without specifying a particular time. 过 (guo) is used to talk about whether something has ''ever'' happened - whether it ''has been experienced''.
  
 
=== Examples ===
 
=== Examples ===
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== Negating a 过 (guò) Sentence ==
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== Negating a 过 (guo) Sentence ==
  
 
Because 过 (guò) is used to talk about past actions, it should be [[Negation of past actions|negated with 没]] (méi).  
 
Because 过 (guò) is used to talk about past actions, it should be [[Negation of past actions|negated with 没]] (méi).  
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To emphasize "never" even more, you can also [[Expressing "never" with "conglai"|use the word 从来 (cónglái)]].
 
To emphasize "never" even more, you can also [[Expressing "never" with "conglai"|use the word 从来 (cónglái)]].
  
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== Using 过 (guò) with 了 (le) ==
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== Using 过 (guo) with 了 (le) ==
  
 
You'll sometimes see 过 (guò) used together with 了 (le).  This can be a little confusing, as it doesn't seem to be following the rules laid out above.  For more on this special usage of 过 (guò), see the article on [[Using "guo" with "le"|using 过 (guò) with 了 (le)]].
 
You'll sometimes see 过 (guò) used together with 了 (le).  This can be a little confusing, as it doesn't seem to be following the rules laid out above.  For more on this special usage of 过 (guò), see the article on [[Using "guo" with "le"|using 过 (guò) with 了 (le)]].

Revision as of 08:28, 6 February 2017

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

Basic Pattern

Structure

Subj. + Verb + 过 + Obj.

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

Examples

In English, if you're asking a question and really trying to figure out if someone has ever done something before, we tend to use the words "ever" and "before." In Chinese, 过 (guò) alone expresses this, without the need for additional words.

  • 你 学 过 中文 吗？ Nǐ xué guo Zhōngwén ma? Have you ever studied Chinese?
  • 你 见 过 那 个 人 吗？ Nǐ jiàn guo nàge rén ma? Have you seen that person before?
  • 我们 来 过 这 个 地方。Wǒmen lái guo zhège dìfang. We've been to this place before.
  • 我 也 吃 过 日本菜。 Wǒ yě chī guo Rìběn cài. I've also eaten Japanese food before.
  • 你 看 过 这 个 电影 吗 ？ Nǐ kàn guo zhège diànyǐng ma? Have you seen this movie?

Negating a 过 (guo) Sentence

Because 过 (guò) is used to talk about past actions, it should be negated with 没 (méi).

Structure

Subj. + 没 + Verb + 过 + Obj.

Examples

Note that when you translate these examples into English, "have never" [done something] is often more natural, indicating that someone lacks the experience of having done something, rather than just "have not" [done something].

  • 我 没 想 过 这 个 问题。Wǒ méi xiǎng guo zhège wèntí. I've never thought about this question before.
  • 我 没 学 过 这 个 词 。 Wǒ méi xué guo zhège cí. I have never studied this word before.
  • 妈妈 没 买 过 很 贵 的 衣服。 Māma méi mǎi guo hěn guì de yīfu. Mom has never bought any expensive clothes before.
  • 我们 都 没 坐 过 飞机。 Wǒmen dōu méi zuò guo fēijī. None of us has ever been on a airplane before.
  • 你们 没 见 过 美女 吗？Nǐmen méi jiàn guo měinǚ ma? Have you never seen beautiful girls before?

To emphasize "never" even more, you can also use the word 从来 (cónglái).

Using 过 (guo) with 了 (le)

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

See Also

Sources and further reading

Books

Websites

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