HSK 2 grammar · new HSK syllabus
过: have done before
Verb + 过 says you have had the experience: 我去过北京. Negative: 没去过.
Structure
- Verb + 过 (+ object)
- 没 + verb + 过
How it works
过 after a verb says that something has happened at least once in your life: 我吃过饺子 = I have eaten dumplings (before).
The negative is 没 + verb + 过. Keep 过 in the negative: 我没去过上海.
Questions: 你去过北京吗？ or 你去过北京没有？
Compare 了: 我吃了饺子 is about one particular meal; 我吃过饺子 is about experience.
Examples
-
我去过北京两次。
Wǒ qù guò Běijīng liǎng cì.
I’ve been to Beijing twice.
-
你吃过饺子吗？
Nǐ chī guò jiǎozi ma?
Have you ever eaten dumplings?
-
我没看过这个电影。
Wǒ méi kàn guò zhège diànyǐng.
I haven’t seen this film.
-
他以前学过一点儿汉语。
Tā yǐqián xué guò yìdiǎnr Hànyǔ.
He studied a little Chinese before.
-
我还没坐过飞机。
Wǒ hái méi zuò guò fēijī.
I haven’t been on a plane yet.
Words in these examples (20)
| 我 | wǒ | I; me | HSK 1 |
| 去 | qù | to go | HSK 1 |
| 过 | guò | to cross; to pass; to spend (time); to celebrate | HSK 2 |
| 两 | liǎng | two (before a measure word) | HSK 1 |
| 次 | cì | time (occurrence), as in 三次 "three times" | HSK 2 |
| 你 | nǐ | you | HSK 1 |
| 吃 | chī | to eat | HSK 1 |
| 饺子 | jiǎozi | dumpling | HSK 1 |
| 吗 | ma | (question particle for yes/no questions) | HSK 1 |
| 看 | kàn | to look; to watch; to read | HSK 1 |
| 这个 | zhège | this one | HSK 1 |
| 电影 | diànyǐng | film; movie | HSK 1 |
| 他 | tā | he; him | HSK 1 |
| 以前 | yǐqián | before; in the past | HSK 3 |
| 学 | xué | to learn; to study | HSK 1 |
| 一点儿 | yìdiǎnr | a little; a bit | HSK 1 |
| 汉语 | Hànyǔ | Chinese (language) | HSK 1 |
| 还 | hái | still; also | HSK 1 |
| 坐 | zuò | to sit; to take (bus, plane) | HSK 1 |
| 飞机 | fēijī | airplane | HSK 1 |
Common mistakes
-
✗我没去北京过。
✓我没去过北京。
过 goes right after the verb.
-
✗我没去。（meaning “never been”）
✓我没去过。
Keep 过 to talk about experience.
Check yourself
Choose the word that fills the gap.
1. 我学 一年汉语。
2. 你去 中国吗？
3. 我没 这本书。