▎過, guò, (Ptc), Experience Aspect (1)

 

Function The particle 過 is suffixed to action verb and marks the subject’s experience of the action depicted by the verb.

1 我在高中學過中文。

Wǒ zài gāozhōng xuéguò Zhōngwén.

I studied Chinese in senior high school.

2 我去過那個語言中心。

Wǒ qùguò nà ge yǔyán zhōngxīn.

I been to that language center.

3 我教過他兩年西班牙文。

Wǒ jiāoguò tā liǎng nián Xībānyáwén.

I taught him Spanish for two years.

 

Structures Experiential sentences usually include duration, frequency and non-specific past time.

1 我學過兩次西班牙文。

Wǒ xuéguò liǎng cì Xībānyáwén.

I’ve studied Spanish twice before.

2 他在越南住過三年。

Tā zài Yuènán zhùguò sān nián.

He lived in Vietnam for three years.

3 你已經去過這麼多國家，還想去哪裡？

Nǐ yǐjīng qùguò zhème duō guójiā, hái xiǎng qù nǎlǐ?

You’ve already been to so many countries. Where else would you like to go?

Negation：Only 沒 negation is used in this pattern.

1 我以前沒學過中文。

Wǒ yǐqián méi xuéguò Zhōngwén.

I’ve never studied Chinese before.

2 我沒去過法國。

Wǒ méi qùguò Fǎguó.

I’ve never been to France.

3 我沒買過那家的麵包。

Wǒ méi mǎiguò nà jiā de miànbāo.

I’ve never bought bread at that store.

Questions：

1 你小時候去過日本沒有？

Nǐ xiǎoshíhòu qùguò Rìběn méi yǒu?

Did you ever go to Japan when you were young?

2 王老師的課，你上過嗎？

Wáng lǎoshī de kè, nǐ shàngguò ma?

Have you ever taken Miss Wang’s class before?

3 他以前是不是看過那本書？

Tā yǐqián shìbúshì kànguò nà běn shū?

Has he read that book before?

 

Usage

(1) The experience marker, 過, usually combines with non-specific time references, such as 以前yǐqián ‘before’, 小時候xiǎoshíhòu ‘when I was young’, and not specific references, such as 昨天zuótiān ‘yesterday’ or 上午十點半shàngwǔ shídiǎnbàn ‘10:30am’.

(2) Verb＋過 vs. Verb＋了： The differences between 過 and 了 are often subtle, both referring to the occurrence of instances and activities in the past though 了can be used with future actions. Remember that 過 refers to experience, which can repeat, whereas了refers to a single occurrence at a specific past. Please compare the following pairs of sentences.

1 a. 他去過很多國家。(to date)

Tā qùguò hěn duō guójiā.

b. 他去了很多國家。(during his last trip)

Tā qùle hěn duō guójiā.

2 a. 他點過日本菜。(He is experienced. Let’s ask him for his advice.)

Tā diǎnguò Rìběn cài.

b. 他點了日本菜。(for our get-together last week)

Tā diǎnle Rìběn cài.