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

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The [[aspect particle]] 过 is used to indicate that an '''action has been experienced''' in the past.  
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{{Grammar Box}}
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The [[aspect particle]] 过 (guo) is used to indicate that an '''action has been experienced''' in the past.  
  
== Basic Pattern ==
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== Basic Usage ==
  
The structure is:
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=== Structure ===
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
  
Subject + Verb + 过 + Object
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Subj. + Verb + 过 + Obj.
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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''.
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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 ==
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=== Examples ===
  
Some examples of how is typically used:
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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, (guo) alone expresses this, without the need for additional words.
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* 我 去 <em>过</em> 中国。
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* 你 学 <em>过</em> 中文 吗? <span class="pinyin">Nǐ xué <em>guo</em> Zhōngwén ma?</span><span class="trans">Have you ever studied Chinese?</span>
* 吃 <em>过</em> 小笼包。
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* 你 见 <em>过</em> 那 个 人 吗? <span class="pinyin">Nǐ jiàn <em>guo</em> nàge rén ma?</span><span class="trans">Have you seen that person before?</span>
* 你 看 <em>过</em> 人 吗?
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* 我们 来 <em>过</em> 这 个 地方。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen lái <em>guo</em> zhège dìfang.</span><span class="trans">We've been to this place before.</span>
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* 我 也 吃 <em>过</em> 日本菜。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ yě chī <em>guo</em> Rìběn cài.</span><span class="trans">I've also eaten Japanese food before.</span>
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* 你 看 <em>过</em> 电影 吗 ? <span class="pinyin">Nǐ kàn <em>guo</em> zhège diànyǐng ma?</span><span class="trans">Have you seen this movie?</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== Negating a 过 sentence ==
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== Negating a 过 (guo) Sentence ==
  
Because 过 is used to talk about past actions, it should be [[Negation of past actions|negated with 没]]. The structure is:
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Because 过 (guo) is used to talk about past actions, it should be [[Negation of past actions with "meiyou"|negated with 没]] (méi).  
 +
 
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=== Structure ===
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
  
Subject + 没 + Verb + 过 + Object
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Subj. + 没 + Verb + 过 + Obj.
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
Some examples:
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=== 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].
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* 我 <em>没</em> <strong>过</strong> 中国。
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* 我 <em>没</em> <em>过</em> 这 个 问题。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>méi</em> xiǎng  <em>guo</em> zhège wèntí.</span><span class="trans"> I've never thought about this question before.</span>
* <em>没</em> <strong>过</strong> 这 首 歌。
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* <em>没</em> <em>过</em> 这 个 词 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>méi</em> xué <em>guo</em> zhège cí.</span><span class="trans">I have never studied this word before.</span>
* <em>没</em> <strong>过</strong> 这 种 啤酒。
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*  妈妈 <em>没</em> 买 <em>过</em> 很 贵 的 衣服。 <span class="pinyin">Māma <em>méi</em> mǎi <em>guo</em>  hěn guì de yīfu.</span><span class="trans">Mom has never bought any expensive clothes before.</span>
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* 我们 都 <em>没</em> 坐 <em>过</em> 飞机。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒmen dōu <em>méi</em> zuò <em>guo</em> fēijī.</span><span class="trans">None of us has ever been on a airplane before.</span>
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* 你们 <em>没</em> <em>过</em> 美女 吗?<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen <em>méi</em> jiàn <em>guo</em> měinǚ ma? </span><span class="trans">Have you never seen beautiful girls before?  </span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== Using 过 with 了 ==
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To emphasize "never" even more, you can also [[Expressing "never" with "conglai"|use the word 从来 (cónglái)]].
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== Using 过 (guo) with 了 (le) ==
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You'll sometimes see 过 (guo) 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 (guo), see the article on [[Using "guo" with "le"|using 过 (guo) with 了 (le)]].
  
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 "guo" with "le"|using 过 with 了]].
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== See also ==
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*[[Expressing "once" with "cengjing"]]
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*[[Expressing completion with "le"]]
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*[[Aspect particle "zhe"]]
  
 
== Sources and further reading ==
 
== Sources and further reading ==
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=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
  
* [[A Practical Chinese Grammar For Foreigners (外国人实用汉语语法) ]] (pp. 138) [http://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B001J0ADWA&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B001J0ADWA →buy]
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{{Source|HSK Standard Course 2|108}}
* [[Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition]] (pp. 59-60) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415372615/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0415372615 →buy]
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{{Source|A Practical Chinese Grammar For Foreigners (外国人实用汉语语法) |138}}
* [[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]
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{{Source|Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition|59-60}}
* [[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]
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{{Source|Chinese Grammar Without Tears (简明汉语语法学习手册) |73-4}}
* [[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]
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{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed)|83- 4}}
* [[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]
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{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1|345-7}}
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{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2|49-51}}
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{{Source|Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide|76-7, 230-2}}
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{{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2)|175-6}}
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{{Source|40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课上册)|188}}
  
 
=== Websites ===
 
=== Websites ===
  
 
* ChinesePod: [http://chinesepod.com/lessons/%E8%BF%87guo Qing Wen - 过(guo)] (free podcast content)
 
* ChinesePod: [http://chinesepod.com/lessons/%E8%BF%87guo Qing Wen - 过(guo)] (free podcast content)
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[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
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{{HSK|HSK2}}{{2021-HSK|HSK2}}
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{{Used for|Referring to the past}}
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{{Used for|Referring to past experiences}}
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{{Basic Grammar|过|A2|Verb + 过|我 去 <em>过</em> 中国 。|grammar point|ASGQGV3P}}
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{{Similar|Taiwanese "you"}}
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{{Similar|Expressing "once" with "cengjing"}}
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{{Similar|Uses of le}}
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{{Similar|Expressing completion with "le"}}
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{{Translation|have}}
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{{POS|Particles}}

Latest revision as of 08:56, 21 April 2021

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

Basic Usage

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 (guo) alone expresses this, without the need for additional words.

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

Negating a 过 (guo) Sentence

Because 过 (guo) 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].

  • 这 个 问题。méi xiǎng guo zhège wèntí. I've never thought about this question before.
  • 这 个 词 。 méi xué guo zhège cí.I have never studied this word before.
  • 妈妈 很 贵 的 衣服。 Māma méi mǎi guo hěn guì de yīfu.Mom has never bought any expensive clothes before.
  • 我们 都 飞机。 Wǒmen dōu méi zuò guo fēijī.None of us has ever been on a airplane before.
  • 你们 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 (guo) 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 (guo), see the article on using 过 (guo) with 了 (le).

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Websites