Introduction:
How do you say "I have been to China" or "I have tried durian"? You use 过 (guò)! This little word is your best friend for talking about life experiences. It's different from 了 (le), which is for a specific action completed in the past. 过 is about the experience itself.

The Structure:
Subject + Verb + 过 + (Object)

Key Points:

• It indicates that an action has happened at least once in the past.

• It's like saying "have ever done" something.

• To make it negative, use 没(有) (méi(yǒu)) before the verb. Remember, you cannot use 了 in a negative 过 sentence.

Examples:

1. Positive:

• 我去过中国。 (Wǒ qù guò Zhōngguó.) - I have been to China.

• 我吃过北京烤鸭。 (Wǒ chī guò Běijīng kǎoyā.) - I have eaten Peking Duck.

2. Negative (I have never...):

• 我没去过日本。 (Wǒ méi qù guò Rìběn.) - I have never been to Japan.

• 我没有看过那部电影。 (Wǒ méiyǒu kàn guò nà bù diànyǐng.) - I have never seen that movie.

3. Question (Have you ever...?):

• 你学过法语吗？ (Nǐ xué guò Fǎyǔ ma?) - Have you ever studied French?

过 (guò) vs. 了 (le):

• 过: Focuses on the experience. The action is completely over and not connected to the present.

• 我吃过饭了。 (Wǒ chī guò fàn le.) - I have already eaten (so I'm not hungry now). Note: 了 at the end of the sentence here indicates a current state.

• 了: Focuses on the completion of an action in a specific past context.

• 昨天我吃了一个苹果。 (Zuótiān wǒ chī le yī gè píngguǒ.) - Yesterday I ate an apple.

Practice:
Answer this question about yourself: 你做过什么有意思的事情？ (Nǐ zuò guò shénme yǒuyìsi de shìqíng?) - What interesting things have you done?