Past Experiences: Have You Ever? (过 guo)
过 to talk about life experiences—things you've been there and donein your past history.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use {过|guò} after a verb to indicate that an action happened at least once in the past.
- Add {过|guò} directly after the verb: {我去过|wǒ qù guò} (I have been there).
- For negatives, use {没|méi} or {没有|méiyǒu} before the verb: {我没去过|wǒ méi qù guò}.
- For questions, add {吗|ma} at the end or use the {没|méi} structure: {你去过吗|nǐ qù guò ma}?
Overview
过 (guo) is a Chinese aspect particle indicating experiential aspect. It signifies that an action has been performed at least once at some indefinite time in the past, and the experience of that action is now part of the subject's history or repertoire. Unlike the explicit past tense in languages like English (e.g., "I ate," "I went"), Chinese verbs do not conjugate for tense.
Instead, particles like 过 modify the aspect of the verb, focusing on how the action unfolds or relates to the time of speaking. 过 specifically highlights the existence of an event in the past, emphasizing that the subject possesses the memory or knowledge of having done it.
This particle is crucial for discussing life experiences, travel, skills acquired, or things you have encountered. It differentiates between a simple past event and an experience that has contributed to one's personal history. For instance, 我吃了饭 (wǒ chī le fàn) implies you simply ate a meal, often recently and with present relevance.
In contrast, 我吃过饭 (wǒ chī guo fàn) suggests you have had the experience of eating a meal, perhaps implying a past occasion that is being recalled or contrasted with not having eaten yet. The core function of 过 is to denote a discontinuous past experience: the action happened, it concluded, and it is not currently ongoing. This linguistic distinction is fundamental to expressing nuances of past events in Chinese, especially at the A2 level where you begin to narrate personal history.
How This Grammar Works
过 (guo) fundamentally functions as an experiential marker, denoting that an action has occurred at least once in the past, contributing to the subject's personal history. Its placement immediately after the verb is critical, as it modifies the verb's aspect, not its tense. This is a core difference from Indo-European languages where verbs change form to indicate past tense.过 specify the action's relation to time. The character 过 itself, meaning "to pass," "to cross," or "to go by," offers insight into its grammatical function: an action has "passed through" the subject's experience, implying it is now complete and in the past.过 inherently implies that the action is completed and that its immediate consequence or state is no longer current. If you say 我去过北京 (wǒ qù guo Běijīng, "I have been to Beijing"), it conveys that your visit to Beijing happened in the past and you are no longer there. This contrasts sharply with 我去了北京 (wǒ qù le Běijīng), which could mean you just arrived in Beijing, or your going to Beijing is a newly completed action with current relevance.你看过这部电影吗？ (nǐ kàn guo zhè bù diànyǐng ma?, "Have you seen this movie before?"). The question is not about whether you just finished watching it, but whether the experience of watching it exists in your past. The answer 我看过 (wǒ kàn guo, "I have seen it") confirms the experience, while 我没看过 (wǒ méi kàn guo, "I haven't seen it") denies it.过 specifically detaches the action from ongoing present relevance, marking it as a historical event in one's life. This allows for clear expression of accumulated personal history.是 (shì, "to be") rarely take 过, action verbs that lead to a state often do. For example, you wouldn't typically say 我是过老师 for "I have been a teacher." Instead, you use an action verb like 当 (dāng, "to serve as" or "to be"): 我当过老师 (wǒ dāng guo lǎoshī, "I have been a teacher").过 requires shifting from a tense-based mindset to an aspect-based one, focusing on the nature and completion of the action within your personal timeline and its contribution to your personal narrative.Formation Pattern
过 are consistent and do not involve verb conjugation, simplifying its application. This particle always follows the main verb it modifies.
[Subject] + [Verb] + 过 + [Object]
S + V + 过 + O | 我吃过饺子。 | Wǒ chī guo jiǎozi. | I have eaten dumplings. |
S + V + 过 + O | 她去过上海。 | Tā qù guo Shànghǎi. | She has been to Shanghai. |
S + V + 过 | 我听过。 | Wǒ tīng guo. | I have heard (it). |
没 (méi) or 没有 (méiyǒu) before the verb. Crucially, 不 (bù) is never used with 过 to negate past experience, as 不 negates intentions, future actions, or habitual actions, not completed events.
[Subject] + 没(有) + [Verb] + 过 + [Object]
S + 没 + V + 过 + O | 我没看过这部电影。 | Wǒ méi kàn guo zhè bù diànyǐng. | I haven't seen this movie. |
S + 没 + V + 过 | 他们没来过。 | Tāmen méi lái guo. | They haven't come before. |
S + 没有 + V + 过 + O | 我没有去过中国。 | Wǒ méiyǒu qù guo Zhōngguó. | I have not been to China. |
吗 (ma) or the A-not-A question form with 没(有).
吗:
[Subject] + [Verb] + 过 + [Object] + 吗?
你喝过酒吗？ (nǐ hē guo jiǔ ma?, "Have you drunk alcohol before?")
没(有)):
[Subject] + [Verb] + 过 + [Object] + 没(有)?
你吃过火锅没有？ (nǐ chī guo huǒguō méiyǒu?, "Have you eaten hotpot or not?")
没有 at the end functions as the negative part of the question. You cannot use 不 here.
过. This indicates the quantity of the completed experience.
[Subject] + [Verb] + 过 + [Number] + [Measure Word] + [Object]
我来过两次上海。 (wǒ lái guo liǎng cì Shànghǎi, "I have been to Shanghai twice.")
两次 (liǎng cì, "twice") quantifies the "coming" experience.
他去过好几次日本。 (tā qù guo hǎo jǐ cì Rìběn, "He has been to Japan quite a few times.")
过, allowing you to precisely convey the experiential aspect of past actions.
When To Use It
过 is to mark an action as a completed past experience that is no longer ongoing, but whose memory or skill remains. You use 过 when the focus is on the fact that an event has occurred in your personal history, rather than its recent completion or current impact (which might use 了). Its versatility makes it a frequent visitor in daily conversations.- Life History and Personal Achievements:
过is indispensable for discussing biographical details, skills you've acquired, or roles you've held. For example,我当过老师(wǒ dāng guo lǎoshī, "I have been a teacher") communicates a past profession. Similarly,他学过西班牙语(tā xué guo Xībānyáyǔ, "He has studied Spanish") indicates a skill acquired, whether or not he still speaks it fluently. The emphasis is on having the experience of teaching or learning.
- Travel and Exploration: When narrating places you've visited or foods you've tried,
过is the natural choice.我去过长城(wǒ qù guo Chángchéng, "I have been to the Great Wall") signifies a trip taken in the past.你吃过臭豆腐吗？(nǐ chī guo chòu dòufu ma?, "Have you tried stinky tofu?") directly inquires about a specific culinary experience. This is crucial for cross-cultural discussions about local customs and cuisines.
- Media Consumption: Discussing books read, movies watched, or songs heard typically employs
过.我看过这部电影(wǒ kàn guo zhè bù diànyǐng, "I have seen this movie") confirms you have the experience of viewing it.你听过这首歌吗？(nǐ tīng guo zhè shǒu gē ma?, "Have you heard this song before?") is a common way to ask about familiarity with a piece of music. This allows you to connect with others over shared cultural touchpoints.
- Encounters and Interactions: For past meetings or collaborations,
过is appropriate.我见过他几次(wǒ jiàn guo tā jǐ cì, "I have met him a few times") implies multiple past encounters.我们合作过一个项目(wǒmen hézuò guo yī gè xiàngmù, "We have collaborated on a project") highlights a shared past work experience. This establishes historical connections between individuals or groups.
- Experiences that are now finished: If an event occurred and is now definitively in the past, without any direct ongoing effect that needs to be highlighted,
过is suitable. For instance,我病过一场(wǒ bìng guo yī chǎng, "I was sick once") describes a past illness. You are no longer sick, but the experience of being sick is part of your past. The focus is on the event itself having transpired, rather than its after-effects.
- Cultural Insight: The extensive use of
过reflects a cultural emphasis on accumulated experience and personal history. In many conversations, sharing past experiences is a fundamental way to build rapport and common ground. This makes过a cornerstone of social interaction in Chinese, often appearing in introductory conversations or when recounting personal anecdotes. It allows speakers to establish familiarity and shared background, which is highly valued in Chinese communication.
过 emphasizes the existence of the experience, often implying that the action is not continuing or ongoing. This is its key distinction from 了, which often signals a completed action with immediate relevance or a change of state. When you want to assert "I've done that before" or inquire "Have you ever done that?", 过 is the most precise and idiomatic choice, clearly marking the event as part of a personal experiential archive.Common Mistakes
过, often due to interference from English tense systems. Understanding these common pitfalls is essential for achieving fluency and avoiding unnatural-sounding Chinese.- 1Confusing
过with了for Simple Past:
过 for any past action, similar to an English simple past tense. 过 specifically denotes experience, implying discontinuity with the present. If an action is merely completed in the past with current relevance, 了 is often more appropriate.- Incorrect:
我今天早上吃过饭了。(wǒ jīntiān zǎoshang chī guo fàn le.) - Why wrong: This implies that eating breakfast this morning was a novel or significant "experience" you want to highlight as part of your history, which is generally not the case for a routine action.
- Correct:
我今天早上吃饭了。(wǒ jīntiān zǎoshang chī fàn le.) - Why correct: Simply states the completion of the action of eating this morning, often with the implication that you are now full or ready for the next activity.
了marks completion and current relevance. - Contextual use of
过for routine actions: You can say我吃过饭了if the context emphasizes having had the experience of eating, for instance, if someone is inviting you to dinner and you want to convey you've already had that experience:不用了，我吃过饭了。(búyòng le, wǒ chī guo fàn le, "No need, I've already eaten."). Here,过emphasizes the prior experience of eating, making the current invitation unnecessary.
- 1Using
不(bù) for Negation of Past Experience:
过 is that its negation always uses 没 (méi) or 没有 (méiyǒu), never 不. 不 negates intentions, future actions, or habitual actions, not completed events or experiences.- Incorrect:
我不过去。(wǒ bù guo qù.) - Why wrong: This phrase is grammatically correct but means "I'm not going over there," using
过as a directional complement, not an aspect particle for experience. It's a different grammatical structure entirely. - Incorrect:
我不吃过饺子。(wǒ bù chī guo jiǎozi.) - Why wrong: This is ungrammatical when trying to express "I haven't eaten dumplings before."
不cannot negate过in this sense. - Correct:
我没吃过饺子。(wǒ méi chī guo jiǎozi.) - Why correct: Correctly uses
没to negate the past experience. "I haven't eaten dumplings before."
- 1Applying
过to Verbs of Continuous State or Non-Repeatable Actions:
过 is generally not used with verbs that describe continuous states or conditions that are not experiences, or with actions that are inherently non-repeatable. For example, verbs like 是 (shì, "to be") or 在 (zài, "to be at/in") do not typically take 过 in the experiential sense.- Incorrect:
我是过学生。(wǒ shì guo xuéshēng.) - Why wrong: "To be" is a state, not an experience that is had and then discontinued in the same way an action is. While you were a student, it's not expressed with
过this way. - Correct:
我当过学生。(wǒ dāng guo xuéshēng.) - Why correct: Uses
当(dāng, "to serve as," "to be") which is an action verb compatible with过, indicating the experience of having been a student.
出生 (chūshēng, "to be born") or 死亡 (sǐwáng, "to die") are generally non-repeatable events for an individual and thus do not combine with 过.- 1Misplacing
过in the Sentence:
过 always follows the verb it modifies. Placing it elsewhere can lead to confusion or ungrammatical sentences, as it often forms a close unit with the verb.- Incorrect:
我电影看过。(wǒ diànyǐng kàn guo.) - Why wrong: The object
电影is placed before the verb-particle combination, breaking the standardV + 过 + Ostructure. - Correct:
我看过电影。(wǒ kàn guo diànyǐng.) - Why correct: Follows the standard structure
S + V + 过 + O. "I have seen movies."
- 1Over-Generalizing
过to Mean Any Past Action:
过 specifies discontinuous experience. If an action's completion has a direct, immediate, and ongoing impact, 了 is usually preferred. 过 implies the event is a closed chapter in your history, even if the memory remains.- Incorrect: (While waiting for a friend)
我已经到过车站了。(wǒ yǐjīng dào guo chēzhàn le.) - Why wrong: You are currently at the station, so saying you "have had the experience of arriving" is odd.
到过implies you arrived and left. - Correct:
我已经到车站了。(wǒ yǐjīng dào chēzhàn le.) - Why correct:
到...了indicates completion of arrival and implies you are still there, which is the intended meaning.
过 from 了 and other grammatical particles, and by consistently applying the rules for its placement and negation, you can significantly improve your accuracy and naturalness when discussing past experiences in Chinese.Real Conversations
Understanding 过 in theoretical terms is one thing; observing its use in authentic communication provides deeper insight. It appears in a wide range of contexts, from casual chats to more formal discussions, always conveying that sense of prior experience.
1. Casual Conversation/Social Media:
When friends talk about travel, food, or hobbies, 过 is omnipresent. On social media, you'll see questions like 谁去过这个地方？ (shéi qù guo zhège dìfāng?, "Who has been to this place?") or comments like 我没吃过这个口味！ (wǒ méi chī guo zhège kǒuwèi!, "I haven't tried this flavor!"). This particle helps to gauge shared experiences and interests.
- Scenario: Discussing travel plans with a friend:
A
我计划夏天去泰国。你以前去过吗？ (Wǒ jìhuà xiàtiān qù Tàiguó. Nǐ yǐqián qù guo ma?)I plan to go to Thailand this summer. Have you been there before?*
B
我去过两次。曼谷和清迈我都去过。 (Wǒ qù guo liǎng cì. Màngǔ hé Qīngmài wǒ dōu qù guo.)I've been twice. I've been to both Bangkok and Chiang Mai.*
2. Professional or Formal Settings:
In a job interview or when discussing professional background, 过 is used to highlight relevant work experience or skills. It conveys competence by referencing past actions without implying current engagement.
- Scenario: Job interview:
Interviewer
你有没有做过市场营销？ (Nǐ yǒu méiyǒu zuò guo shìchǎng yíngxiāo?)Have you done marketing before?*
Candidate
我做过三年的市场营销。 (Wǒ zuò guo sān nián de shìchǎng yíngxiāo.)I have done three years of marketing.*
Here, 做过 (zuò guo) clearly states past experience, differentiating it from 正在做 (zhèngzài zuò, "currently doing").
3. Asking for Recommendations/Familiarity:
过 is crucial when seeking advice or recommendations based on someone's prior experience with a product, service, or media.
- Scenario: Choosing a restaurant:
A
这家餐厅看起来不错，你吃过吗？ (Zhè jiā cāntīng kàn qǐlái búcuò, nǐ chī guo ma?)This restaurant looks good, have you eaten there before?*
B
没吃过，但是我的朋友去过，说菜很好吃。 (Méi chī guo, dànshì wǒ de péngyǒu qù guo, shuō cài hěn hǎochī.)I haven't, but my friend has been there and said the food was delicious.*
4. Expressing Discontinuation of a Past State:
As mentioned, 过 inherently implies that the action or state is no longer current. This is often used subtly in conversations.
- Scenario: Talking about living arrangements:
A
你现在住在北京吗？ (Nǐ xiànzài zhù zài Běijīng ma?)Do you live in Beijing now?*
B
我以前住过，但现在搬到上海了。 (Wǒ yǐqián zhù guo, dàn xiànzài bān dào Shànghǎi le.)I used to live there, but now I've moved to Shanghai.*
The 住过 clearly indicates past residence, not current. This demonstrates how 过 provides important context about the temporal relationship of an event to the present moment, shaping the listener's understanding of your current situation.
These examples illustrate that 过 is not just a grammatical rule, but a deeply integrated part of how Chinese speakers share, inquire about, and frame their personal histories and knowledge. Mastering its usage will enable you to participate more naturally and effectively in a wide variety of communicative situations.
Quick FAQ
过 (guo), providing concise clarification for frequent doubts.- Q: Can
过be used for something that happened very recently, like five minutes ago?
Technically possible if you emphasize the experience of it, but generally, for very recent actions with immediate relevance, 了 is more natural. For example, 我刚喝了水 (wǒ gāng hē le shuǐ, "I just drank water") is more common than 我刚喝过水 (wǒ gāng hē guo shuǐ), unless you're highlighting the experience of having tried a new type of water. 过 implies a degree of separation from the present moment.
- Q: Does
过always mean "past tense"?
Chinese does not have grammatical tenses in the same way English does. 过 is an aspect particle, always referring to an action that occurred and completed in the past. It marks the experiential aspect, distinguishing it from other particles that mark simple completion (了) or ongoing action (着). Therefore, while it relates to the past, it's more nuanced than a simple tense marker.
- Q: Is it okay to say
我没去过(wǒ méi qù guo) without an object?
Absolutely. If the context is clear from the preceding conversation, omitting the object is perfectly natural and common. For example, if someone asks 你去过北京吗？ (nǐ qù guo Běijīng ma?, "Have you been to Beijing?"), a concise 我没去过 is an idiomatic response. This brevity is characteristic of spoken Chinese.
- Q: Can I use
过with "to be" (是)?
Generally, no, not in the experiential sense. 是 describes a state or identity, not an action that is experienced and then concluded. Instead of 我是过老师, use action verbs like 当 (dāng, "to serve as") or 做 (zuò, "to do/work as"). For example, 我当过老师 (wǒ dāng guo lǎoshī, "I have been a teacher"). This highlights the active role or experience rather than a static state.
- Q: How do I express "never, ever" done something?
You can intensify the negation by adding 从来 (cónglái, "always/from before") or 从来没有 (cónglái méiyǒu, "never") before the verb, followed by 过. For example, 我从来没看过这样的电影 (wǒ cónglái méi kàn guo zhèyàng de diànyǐng, "I've never, ever seen a movie like this before"). This emphasizes a complete absence of the experience throughout one's life.
- Q: Does
过sound formal or informal?
过 is completely neutral in tone and widely used in both formal and informal contexts. It is a fundamental part of everyday Chinese, employed by speakers of all ages and backgrounds. It is as standard and common as the English "have you ever..." construction.
Formation of {过|guò}
| Type | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Subj + Verb + 过 + Obj
|
{我去过中国|wǒ qù guò Zhōngguó}
|
|
Negative
|
Subj + 没(有) + Verb + 过 + Obj
|
{我没去过中国|wǒ méi qù guò Zhōngguó}
|
|
Question (吗)
|
Subj + Verb + 过 + Obj + 吗?
|
{你去过中国吗|nǐ qù guò Zhōngguó ma}?
|
|
Question (A-not-A)
|
Subj + Verb + 过 + Obj + 没有?
|
{你去过中国没有|nǐ qù guò Zhōngguó méiyǒu}?
|
|
Short Answer (Yes)
|
Verb + 过
|
{去过|qù guò}
|
|
Short Answer (No)
|
没(有) + Verb + 过
|
{没去过|méi qù guò}
|
Meanings
The particle {过|guò} indicates that an action was experienced or occurred at least once in the past. It emphasizes the experience itself rather than the specific time it happened.
Life Experience
Indicates an event has occurred at some point in the past.
“{我学过中文|wǒ xué guò Zhōngwén}”
“{他看过那部电影|tā kàn guò nà bù diànyǐng}”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
V + 过
|
{看过|kàn guò}
|
|
Negative
|
没 + V + 过
|
{没看过|méi kàn guò}
|
|
Question
|
V + 过 + 吗
|
{看过吗|kàn guò ma}
|
|
A-not-A
|
V + 过 + 没有
|
{看过没有|kàn guò méiyǒu}
|
|
Past Experience
|
V + 过
|
{吃过|chī guò}
|
|
Never
|
从没 + V + 过
|
{从没吃过|cóng méi chī guò}
|
Formality Spectrum
您去过中国吗？ (Travel)
你去过中国吗？ (Travel)
去过中国没？ (Travel)
去过中国吗？ (Travel)
The {过|guò} Experience Map
Travel
- 去过 have been to
Food
- 吃过 have eaten
Skills
- 学过 have studied
Examples by Level
{我吃过苹果|wǒ chī guò píngguǒ}
I have eaten apples.
{他去过学校|tā qù guò xuéxiào}
He has been to school.
{你喝过茶吗|nǐ hē guò chá ma}
Have you drunk tea?
{我没看过书|wǒ méi kàn guò shū}
I haven't read the book.
{你去过北京吗|nǐ qù guò Běijīng ma}
Have you been to Beijing?
{我没学过法语|wǒ méi xué guò Fǎyǔ}
I haven't studied French.
{她见过我的老师|tā jiàn guò wǒ de lǎoshī}
She has met my teacher.
{我们买过那辆车|wǒmen mǎi guò nà liàng chē}
We have bought that car.
{我以前听过这首歌|wǒ yǐqián tīng guò zhè shǒu gē}
I have heard this song before.
{他没做过这种工作|tā méi zuò guò zhè zhǒng gōngzuò}
He hasn't done this kind of work.
{你试过中国菜吗|nǐ shì guò Zhōngguó cài ma}
Have you tried Chinese food?
{我没住过酒店|wǒ méi zhù guò jiǔdiàn}
I haven't stayed in a hotel.
{我曾经去过那个地方|wǒ céngjīng qù guò nàge dìfāng}
I have been to that place before.
{他没处理过这种问题|tā méi chǔlǐ guò zhè zhǒng wèntí}
He hasn't handled this type of problem.
{我们没看过这么美的风景|wǒmen méi kàn guò zhème měi de fēngjǐng}
We haven't seen such beautiful scenery.
{你有没有想过这个问题|nǐ yǒu méiyǒu xiǎng guò zhège wèntí}
Have you ever thought about this question?
{我从未去过那里|wǒ cóngwèi qù guò nàlǐ}
I have never been there.
{他没经历过这种挫折|tā méi jīnglì guò zhè zhǒng cuòzhé}
He hasn't experienced this kind of setback.
{我没读过这本经典著作|wǒ méi dú guò zhè běn jīngdiǎn zhùzuò}
I haven't read this classic work.
{你没听说过这个传闻吗|nǐ méi tīngshuō guò zhège chuánwén ma}
Haven't you heard of this rumor?
{我没见过如此壮观的景象|wǒ méi jiàn guò rúcǐ zhuàngguān de jǐngxiàng}
I have never seen such a spectacular sight.
{他没领悟过其中的深意|tā méi lǐngwù guò qízhōng de shēnyì}
He hasn't grasped the deep meaning within it.
{我没体验过这种生活方式|wǒ méi tǐyàn guò zhè zhǒng shēnghuó fāngshì}
I haven't experienced this lifestyle.
{你没察觉过他的变化吗|nǐ méi chájué guò tā de biànhuà ma}
Haven't you noticed his changes?
Easily Confused
Both relate to the past.
Common Mistakes
我去过昨天
我昨天去过 (Wait, still wrong! Just: 我昨天去了)
我不去过
我没去过
我吃过饭了
我吃过饭
我没去过那里昨天
我昨天没去那里
我曾经去过那里昨天
我曾经去过那里
Sentence Patterns
我___过___。
你___过___吗？
我没___过___。
他___过___没有？
Real World Usage
我做过这个工作。
我去过这里！
你去过那个景点吗？
我吃过这家店。
你谈过恋爱吗？
我学过这门课。
Avoid Time Markers
Negation
Focus on Experience
Politeness
Smart Tips
Use {过|guò} to show you have been there before.
Use {过|guò} to list your past experience.
Always use {没|méi}.
Use {吗|ma} for simple questions.
Pronunciation
Tone
{过|guò} is usually pronounced in the fourth tone, but in some contexts, it can be neutral.
Question
你去过吗↑
Rising intonation for yes/no questions.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of {过|guò} as a 'passport stamp' for your brain; every time you do something new, you get a stamp.
Visual Association
Imagine a traveler showing a passport full of stamps. Each stamp is a verb with a little {过|guò} sticker on it.
Rhyme
For things you've done, add {过|guò} at the end, it's your past experience, my dear friend.
Story
Xiao Wang is a world traveler. He tells his friends, 'I have been to Paris, I have eaten French food, and I have seen the Eiffel Tower.' He uses {过|guò} for every single one of these life experiences.
Word Web
Challenge
Write down 5 things you have done in your life using the {过|guò} structure in 5 minutes.
Cultural Notes
Used frequently in social settings to establish common ground.
Similar usage, but sometimes {有|yǒu} is added before the verb for emphasis.
Often use {咗|zo2} for completion and {過|gwo3} for experience.
The character {过|guò} originally meant 'to cross' or 'to pass'.
Conversation Starters
你去过什么国家？
你吃过最奇怪的食物是什么？
你见过最有意思的人是谁？
你学过什么乐器吗？
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
我___过中国。
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
我昨天去过北京。
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
Have you eaten this?
Answer starts with: 你吃过...
Use '学' and '中文'.
Which particle for experience?
Negative of '见过'?
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercises我___过中国。
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
我昨天去过北京。
过 / 我 / 电影 / 看 / 这部
Have you eaten this?
Use '学' and '中文'.
Which particle for experience?
Negative of '见过'?
Score: /8
Practice Bank
8 exercisesI've seen that person before.
{中国|Zhōngguó} / {没|méi} / {他|tā} / {过|guo} / {去|qù}
Match the pairs:
Select the correct question:
{我|wǒ}{看|kàn}___{三|sān}{次|cì}。
{我|wǒ}{从来|cónglái}{不|bù}{喝|hē}{过|guo}{酒|jiǔ}。
Identify the 'experience' sentence:
Have you heard this song or not?
Score: /8
FAQ (8)
No, {过|guò} is for past experiences only.
{过|guò} is for experience, {了|le} is for completion.
No, {过|guò} cannot be used with specific time markers.
Use {没|méi} before the verb.
Yes, it is standard in Mandarin and understood in most dialects.
No, it is only for verbs.
It is neutral and used in all registers.
Add {吗|ma} at the end or use the A-not-A structure.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Pretérito perfecto (he + participio)
Chinese forbids specific time markers with {过|guò}.
Passé composé
Chinese {过|guò} is strictly for experience.
Perfekt
Chinese {过|guò} is a particle, not a verb conjugation.
～たことがある
Grammar structure is similar but word order differs.
قد + verb
Arabic uses it for emphasis, Chinese uses it for aspect.
Experiential aspect
N/A
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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