Difference between revisions of "Negation of past actions with "meiyou""

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{{Grammar Box}} \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 [[Standard negation with bu|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<div class="jiegou">\r\nSubject + 没有 + Verb\r\n</div>\r\n== Examples ==\r\n<div class="liju">\r\n* 我 <em>没有</em> 去 酒吧。<span class="trans">I didn't go to a bar.</span>
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{{Grammar Box}}  
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Use 没有 (méiyǒu) to negate past actions (to say that someone ''didn't do'' something, or something ''didn't happen'').
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== Structure ==
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Usually verbs can be [[Standard negation with bu|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:
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<div class="jiegou">
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Subject + 没有 + Verb
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</div>
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== Examples ==
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<div class="liju">
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* 我 <em>没有</em> 去 酒吧。<span class="trans">I didn't go to a bar.</span>
 
* 他们 <em>没有</em> 说话。<span class="trans">They didn't speak.</span>
 
* 他们 <em>没有</em> 说话。<span class="trans">They didn't speak.</span>
 
* 我 <em>没有</em> 喝 你的 啤酒。<span class="trans">I didn't drink your beer.</span>
 
* 我 <em>没有</em> 喝 你的 啤酒。<span class="trans">I didn't drink your beer.</span>
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* 宝宝 <em>没有</em> 哭。<span class="trans">The baby didn't cry.</span>
 
* 宝宝 <em>没有</em> 哭。<span class="trans">The baby didn't cry.</span>
 
* 你 <em>没有</em> 生病。<span class="trans">You have not been sick.</span>
 
* 你 <em>没有</em> 生病。<span class="trans">You have not been sick.</span>
* 我 <em>没有</em> 学习 中文。<span class="trans">I haven't studied Chinese.</span>\r\n</div>\r\nNote that you can shorten 没有 to just 没:\r\n<div class="liju">\r\n* 我 <em>没</em> 去 酒吧。<span class="trans">I didn't go to bar.</span>
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* 我 <em>没有</em> 学习 中文。<span class="trans">I haven't studied Chinese.</span>
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</div>
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Note that you can shorten 没有 to just 没:
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 +
<div class="liju">
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 +
* 我 <em>没</em> 去 酒吧。<span class="trans">I didn't go to bar.</span>
 
* 他们 <em>没</em> 说话。<span class="trans">They didn't speak.</span>
 
* 他们 <em>没</em> 说话。<span class="trans">They didn't speak.</span>
 
* 我 <em>没</em> 喝 你的 啤酒。<span class="trans">I didn't drink your beer.</span>
 
* 我 <em>没</em> 喝 你的 啤酒。<span class="trans">I didn't drink your beer.</span>
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* 宝宝 <em>没</em> 哭。<span class="trans">The baby didn't cry.</span>
 
* 宝宝 <em>没</em> 哭。<span class="trans">The baby didn't cry.</span>
 
* 你 <em>没</em> 生病。<span class="trans">You have not been sick.</span>
 
* 你 <em>没</em> 生病。<span class="trans">You have not been sick.</span>
* 我 <em>没</em> 学习 中文。<span class="trans">I haven't studied Chinese.</span>\r\n</div>\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==
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* 我 <em>没</em> 学习 中文。<span class="trans">I haven't studied Chinese.</span>
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</div>
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Remember 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.
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==See also==
 
*[[Negation of "you"]]
 
*[[Negation of "you"]]
*[[Standard negation with bu]]\r\n== Sources and further reading ==\r\n=== Books ===\r\n* [[Practicing HSK Grammar (语法精讲精炼)]] (pp. 32) [http://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B001N6R7DI&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B001N6R7DI →buy]
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*[[Standard negation with bu]]
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== Sources and further reading ==
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=== Books ===
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* [[Practicing HSK Grammar (语法精讲精炼)]] (pp. 32) [http://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B001N6R7DI&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B001N6R7DI →buy]
 
* [[现代汉语八百词(增订本)]]  (pp. 383) [http://www.amazon.cn/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E5%85%AB%E7%99%BE%E8%AF%8D/dp/B001198GSW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345693275&sr=8-1 →buy]
 
* [[现代汉语八百词(增订本)]]  (pp. 383) [http://www.amazon.cn/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E5%85%AB%E7%99%BE%E8%AF%8D/dp/B001198GSW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345693275&sr=8-1 →buy]
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 138-9) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385 →buy]\r\n===Videos===\r\n* Yoyo Chinese: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMaE2w7C5qI&list=PL94A5E422FB99CDDD&index=12 Negation with 没]\r\n[[Category:A1 grammar points]]
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* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 138-9) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385 →buy]
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===Videos===
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* Yoyo Chinese: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMaE2w7C5qI&list=PL94A5E422FB99CDDD&index=12 Negation with 没]
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[[Category:A1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:Verbs]]
 
[[Category:Verbs]]
 
[[Category:Adverbs]]
 
[[Category:Adverbs]]

Revision as of 09:01, 26 November 2013

Use 没有 (méiyǒu) to negate past actions (to say that someone didn't do something, or something didn't happen).

Structure

Usually 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:

Subject + 没有 + Verb

Examples

  • 没有 去 酒吧。I didn't go to a bar.
  • 他们 没有 说话。They didn't speak.
  • 没有 喝 你的 啤酒。I didn't drink your beer.
  • 没有 看到 你。I didn't see you.
  • 没有 吃 早饭。I didn't eat breakfast.
  • 昨天 我 没有 睡觉。Yesterday I didn't sleep.
  • 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.
  • 没有 生病。You have not been sick.
  • 没有 学习 中文。I haven't studied Chinese.

Note that you can shorten 没有 to just 没:

  • 去 酒吧。I didn't go to bar.
  • 他们 说话。They didn't speak.
  • 喝 你的 啤酒。I didn't drink your beer.
  • 看到 你。I didn't see you.
  • 吃 早饭。I didn't eat breakfast.
  • 昨天 我 睡觉。Yesterday I didn't sleep.
  • 买 水果。I haven't bought fruit.
  • 我 太太 做 饭。My wife didn't cook dinner.
  • 宝宝 哭。The baby didn't cry.
  • 生病。You have not been sick.
  • 学习 中文。I haven't studied Chinese.

Remember 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.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Videos