Kilo Lingo

Mandarin · Chapter 18 · Lesson 9 · Common mistake

了 or 过?

One says it happened. The other says you have done it before.

The rule

了 (le0) says an action COMPLETED, usually recently and often still relevant. 过 (guo4) says you have EVER done it, at some point in your life, with no claim about when. 我去了 means I went; 我去过 means I have been.

Pick the right one

0/6

Pick the right one: 了 or 过.

  1. 我已经吃。 (I have already eaten)

    wǒ yǐ jīng chī ___。 (I have already eaten)

  2. 我去中国。 (I have been to China)

    wǒ qù ___ zhōng guó 。 (I have been to China)

  3. 他昨天来。 (he came yesterday)

    tā zuó tiān lái ___。 (he came yesterday)

  4. 你看这个电影吗？ (have you ever seen this film?)

    nǐ kàn ___ zhè ge diàn yǐng ma ？ (have you ever seen this film?)

  5. 我买书。 (I bought a book)

    wǒ mǎi ___ shū 。 (I bought a book)

  6. 我没吃这个。 (I have never eaten this)

    wǒ méi chī ___ zhè ge 。 (I have never eaten this)

You met this in chapter 17. Worth a second look if the drill caught you out.

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