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The aspect particle “过”

In Chinese “过” (guo) follows the verb and shows that an action took place in the past and is not going on now.

The form usually conveys experience: “I have (once) …”

Basic structure

Subject + verb + 过 + object
For example: 我吃过饺子。— I have eaten jiaozi.

The negative

To negate, put 没(有)before the verb.

Subject + 没(有)+ verb + 过 + object

Examples

她去过中国
她tāshe
去qùgo
过guomarks that the experience happened
中国ZhōngguóChina

The sentence means she has been to China at some point.

我吃过饺子,很好吃
我wǒI
吃chīeat
过guomarks that the experience happened
饺子jiǎozijiaozi
很好吃hěn hǎochīvery tasty
她没去过中国
没méihave not
去过中国qù guo Zhōngguóhave been to China

Here 没 comes before the verb and denies the experience.

The question forms

There are three question forms with “过”.

Form 1: add “吗?” at the end.

Sentence + 吗?
我们来过这家商场吗?

Form 2: add “没有?” at the end.

Sentence + 没有?
陈天中吃过饺子没有?

Form 3: “verb + 没 + verb + 过”.

Verb + 没 + verb + 过 + object?
你看没看过那个电影?
看 + 没 + 看 + 过 watch + not + watch + 过

Quick rule

Affirmative:

Verb + 过
去过中国 — has been to China 吃过饺子 — has eaten jiaozi

Negative:

没(有)+ verb + 过
没去过中国 — has never been to China

Question:

……过……吗? or ……过……没有? or verb + 没 + verb + 过……?