No Verb Conjugation! How to Express Past Tense in Chinese with 了, 过&没 ?

Introduction

Does trying to say “I ate” or “I have been” in Chinese leave you scratching your head? Unlike English, past tense in Chinese verbs never change form. No eat/ate/eaten drama here—吃 (chī, to eat) always stays the same.

So how do you talk about the past? The secret lies in tiny helper words like 了 (le) and 过 (guo).

This guide breaks down the magic of Chinese past tense with simple rules, fun cultural insights, and easy examples. By the end, you’ll know how to use 了 for completed actions, 过 for past experiences, and 没 for negatives—without ever memorizing verb conjugations.

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Part 1: Why Past Tense Chinese Is Different (And Easier!)

English vs. Chinese Approaches

👉 In English, verbs bend and twist depending on tense. In Chinese, the verb stays simple. The “past-ness” is expressed with aspect particles (了, 过) and time words like 昨天 (zuótiān, yesterday).

To get a better understanding, check the video here!

A Key Concept: Aspect > Tense

Chinese is less about when something happened, and more about how the action is viewed:

• Completed action? Use 了.
• Past experience? Use 过.
• Didn’t happen? Use 没.

That’s it—you’ve already unlocked the foundation!

Part 2: Meet 了 (le) – The “Done!” Particle for Past Tense

Think of 了 as a little “completion stamp.”

• Rule: Subject + Verb + 了 + Object
• Example: “我吃了包子” (Wǒ chī le bāozi, I ate baozi).
• Culture Tip: 了 can also signal a change of state, not just past tense. For example:
  • “下雨了” (Xià yǔ le) = It started raining.
  • “我饿了” (Wǒ è le) = I’m hungry now (change from not hungry → hungry).
• ⚠️ Warning: Don’t use 了 with 没. “我没吃” (I didn’t eat) is correct, not “我没吃了.”

👉 Memory hack: Imagine stamping DONE! ✅ on your verb whenever you add 了.

Part 3: Meet 过 (guo) – The “Experience” Particle for Past Tense

过 marks that you’ve “crossed paths” with something before.

• Rule: Subject + Verb + 过 + Object
• Example: “我去过北京” (Wǒ qù guo Běijīng, I’ve been to Beijing).
• Negative: 没 + Verb + 过
  • “我没去过北京” (Wǒ méi qù guo Běijīng, I’ve never been to Beijing).
• Fun Fact: 过 also means “to pass/cross,” like 过马路 (guò mǎlù, cross the street). Perfect way to remember: you “cross into” an experience!

👉 Key difference from 了:

• Use 了 if you’re talking about a specific completed event.
• Use 过 if you’re saying you’ve had the experience at least once in your life.

Part 4: Meet 没 (méi) – The Negative Hero

In English, we say “didn’t eat” or “haven’t done.” In Chinese, 没 handles both.

• Rule: Subject + 没 + Verb + Object
• Example: “我没看电影” (Wǒ méi kàn diànyǐng, I didn’t watch the movie).
• Key Hint: 没 itself implies “in the past,” so no need to add 了.
• Extra Tip: For past experiences, use 没 + Verb + 过.
  • Example: “我没吃过北京烤鸭” (Wǒ méi chī guo Běijīng kǎoyā, I’ve never eaten Peking Duck).

👉 Think of 没 as a polite “Nope!” for past actions.

Part 5: Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them When Using Past Tense

• ❌ Mixing 没 and 了
  • Wrong: 我没吃了。
  • Right: 我没吃。
• ❌ Mixing up 了 and 过
  • Wrong: 我吃过早饭 (I ate breakfast today).
  • Right: 我吃了早饭。
  • ✅ Use 过 for life experiences, 了 for specific one-time events.
• ❌ Skipping time words
  • Wrong: 我吃了。 (Vague)
  • Right: 我昨天吃了包子。 (Clear: I ate baozi yesterday).

👉 Tip: Always ask yourself: Was it a specific event, or a general experience? That decides 了 vs. 过.

Part 6: Practice & Real-Life Applications

Quick Quiz

Fill in with 了 or 过:

1. 我去__ 长城。(Answer: 过)
2. 昨天我做__作业。(Answer: 了)
3. 我没看__ 熊猫。(Answer: 过)

Cultural Fun Fact

Chinese people often use 了 in daily conversation not just for grammar, but as a friendly marker of change.

• “吃了吗?” (Chī le ma?) literally means “Have you eaten?” but is also a common greeting, like “How are you?”

Interesting, right? If you want to know more, you can check the website of Wukong Education, where you can find vast learning resources!

FAQs with Past Tense in Chinese

Q1: Can I use 了 and 过 together?

A: Very rare. They serve different purposes—了 = completion, 过 = experience.

Q2: Is “是…的” used for past tense?

A: Yes! It emphasizes details of a past event, like time/place:

• “我是昨天来的” (Wǒ shì zuótiān lái de, I came yesterday).

Q3: Why no verb conjugation in Chinese?

A: Because Chinese relies on particles and context instead of verb changes—making it simpler once you see the system.

Conclusion

Chinese past tense looks tricky at first—but once you meet your three friends (了, 过, 没), it all falls into place.

Start today: write three short sentences with 了 and 过, and share them with your family or teacher.

👉 Download our free cheat sheet for a handy reminder, and check out WuKong Education’s live Chinese classes for guided practice and cultural fun.

With consistent practice, you’ll not only master grammar—you’ll also start thinking in Chinese naturally. You’ve got this!

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Mao Ying | WuKong Chinese Teacher

Master’s degree in International Chinese Education from Peking University. Dedicated to the field of Chinese language education, with 7 years of experience as an international Chinese language teacher.