Aller au contenu
HSK 2.0 Niveau 3+ HSK 3.0 Niveau 3+ 6 min de lecture

了 vs 过

Contrast two aspect markers that both look backward but mean different things.

Pattern

Verb + 了 for event; verb + 过 for experience

Use 了 for a completed or changed situation, and 过 for life experience.

我昨天看了这个电影。

When to use 了 vs 过

了 often focuses on an event happening or a situation changing. 过 focuses on whether the experience has happened at least once.

我看过这个电影。

I have seen this movie before.

我已经吃饭了。

I have already eaten.

她去过中国。

She has been to China.

她去中国了。

She went to China / has gone to China.

Common traps

  • Do not call 了 “past tense.”
  • 过 does not point to one exact finished event by itself.
  • Negate 过 experience with 没...过.

Exercice ciblé

Entraînez-vous sur ce schéma exact avant de continuer.

我昨天看 这个电影

Missing grammar piece
Sens
completion or change particle