2 · Aspect: le, guo, zhe and zai
Guo: having done something before
the experiential aspect
Guo after a verb says that something has happened at least once, at some point in the past.
过, in the neutral tone, stands directly after the verb and says that the action is part of someone’s experience: 我去过北京, “I have been to Beijing”. It does not say when, or how often — only that it has happened at least once. English uses the present perfect for this (“have you ever …?”, “I’ve seen it”).
The difference from 了 is easy to hear in a pair. 他去了北京: he went to Beijing — and may well be there now. 他去过北京: he has been to Beijing at some point, and that trip is over. 过 looks back on an experience from the outside; 了 reports one particular action as done.
The negative keeps 过, unlike 了: 我没去过, “I have never been”. With 从来 in front, it becomes a firm “never”: 我从来没去过. Questions take 吗 or 没有, and a number of times goes after 过: 我去过两次.
The most common slip is asking “Have you been to China?” with 了. 你去了中国吗？ asks about one particular trip — “did you go (as you planned)?” — while the question about experience needs 过. The other is putting 过 after the object; like 了, it clings to the verb.
The form
| an experience | 我去过北京。 |
| never | 我没去过北京。 |
| have you ever …? | 你去过北京吗？ |
| the méiyǒu question | 你去过北京没有？ |
| never, firmly | 我从来没去过北京。 |
| how many times | 我去过两次北京。 |
The rules one by one
The form this topic is aboutThe word that calls for it
Guo after the verb says the action has happened at least once, without saying when.
我吃过四川菜。I’ve had Sichuan food before.
Guo implies that the situation is over: it happened, and now it belongs to the past.
她在英国住过一年。She once lived in Britain for a year.
The negative is méi + verb + guo, and guo stays.
我从来没坐过飞机。I have never been on a plane.
A number of times goes after guo.
这个电影我看过三遍。I’ve seen this film three times.
A closer look
Le, guo and a trip to Beijing
Imagine a friend who flew to Beijing last week. 他去北京了 is what you say while he is away: he has gone, he is there. Once he is back, and someone asks whether he knows the city, you say 他去过北京: he has been there; it is part of what he has done.
Because 过 treats an action as a finished experience, it needs an action that could be over and done with. That is why 过 can carry an implication English leaves unsaid: 他结过婚, “he has been married”, suggests that he is not married now.
Exceptions and special cases (1)
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guo follows a verb like 吃 on one particular occasion, often with 了 at the end or a next step after it
it means “finished with”, close to 完, and can even refer to the future: 吃过饭再走, “eat first, then go”.
我已经吃过饭了，不用等我。I’ve already eaten — no need to wait for me.
This is the older, literal sense of 过, “to pass”: the meal has been passed through. It is about one particular occasion, not about experience.
How to spot it
- 过
- 没…过
- 从来没…过
- 曾经
- 以前
Example sentences
你去过长城吗？Have you been to the Great Wall?
我见过他一次。I’ve met him once.
他学过两年日语，现在都忘了。He once studied Japanese for two years, but he has forgotten it all now.
我从来没喝过这么好喝的茶。I have never had tea this good.
这件事我听说过。I have heard about this.
我们以前是不是见过？Haven’t we met before?
8 more example sentences
我小时候学过游泳。I had swimming lessons as a child.
这家饭馆你来过没有？Have you been to this restaurant before?
我还没去过南方。I haven’t been to the south yet.
他当过三年老师。He was a teacher for three years at one time.
我好像在哪儿见过你。I think I’ve seen you somewhere before.
你用过筷子吗？Have you ever used chopsticks?
她从来没说过一句假话。She has never told a single lie.
这本小说我看过，很有意思。I’ve read this novel — it’s very good.
Worth knowing (1)
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Guo can say more than it seems
Because 过 presents an experience as finished, it often hints that the situation no longer holds. 我学过法语 suggests you no longer study French, and 他结过婚 that he is not married any more.
他结过婚，有一个女儿。He has been married before and has a daughter.
The trap English speakers fall into
Watch out
“Have you been to China?” asks about experience, at any time in your life. With 了 the question is about one particular going — “did you go (as planned)?” — which only makes sense if a trip was already being talked about. Experience needs 过.
Le says it is done; guo says it has been done before.
Your turn
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