Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar

AcTIOn verbS

13.4

13.3.2 Indicating that an action did not occur in the past

To indicate that an action did not occur in the past, negate the action verb with 没/沒 (有)

méi (yǒu).

我今天没(有)吃早饭。

我今天沒(有)吃早飯。

Wǒ jīntiān méi (yǒu) chī zǎofàn.

I didn’t eat breakfast today.

我没买电脑。

我沒買電腦。

Wǒ méi mǎi diànnǎo.

I didn’t buy a computer.

C27.1.2, 37.3

When a verb is negated with 没/沒 (有) méi (yǒu), it cannot be suffixed with 了 le. It can,

however, be suffixed with 过/過 guo.

C37.6

Say this Not this

我没吃过日本菜。 *我没吃了日本菜。

我沒吃過日本菜。 我沒吃了日本菜。

Wǒ méi chīguo Rìběn cài. Wǒ méi chī le Rìběn cài.

I have never eaten Japanese food before.

C37.6

13.4 Asking about actions

To ask if an action generally occurs, will occur, or is complete, ask a yes–no question.

13.4.1 yes–no questions with 吗/嗎 ma

你学中文吗？

你學中文嗎？

Nǐ xué Zhōngwén ma?

Do you study Chinese?

你今天晚上去图书馆吗？

你今天晚上去圖書館嗎？

Nǐ jīntiān wǎnshang qù túshūguǎn ma?

Are you going to the library tonight?

你吃饭了吗？

你吃飯了嗎？

Nǐ chī fàn le ma?

Have you eaten?