Level 2 Lesson 22.1 – Have You Ever Been To That Place Before?

GRAMMAR

Grammar 1: Dynamic / Aspect Particle 过 in Chinese · HSK 2

An Aspect Particle in Chinese is  also known as the Dynamic Particle.

The Dynamic / Aspect Particle 过 is attached to the Verb, to suggest that the action or event is something that has ever happened before. We can use it in this structure:

Subject + Verb 过 ( + Object)

For example,

• wǒ yǐjīng tīngshuō guo nà jiàn shìqing le
  我已经听说过那件事情了。
  I (have) already heard (about) that "jian" (of) thing.
• wǒ yǐqián lái guo zhè ge dìfang
  我以前来过这个地方。
  I (have) (in the) past ever come to this place.

If we want to say a negative sentence, we can follow this structure

Subject + [没/没有] Verb 过 ( + Object)

For example,

• wǒ hái méi xué guo Pǔtōnghuà
  我还没学过普通话。
  I (have) yet not ever learned Mandarin.
• wǒ méiyǒu zuò guo nà jiàn shìqing
  我没有做过那件事情。
  I (have) not ever done that "jian" (of) thing.

Grammar 2: Dynamic / Aspect Particle 过 vs 了 · HSK 2

We have learned about the Dynamic / Aspect Particle 了 before, which usually caused confusion with Dynamic / Aspect Particle 过 for many students.

Generally, the main difference is that 过 marks that the action is "something that has ever happened before", while 了 marks that the action "is completed". If we break it down in details, there are mainly three differences.

(1) Verb过 is used for action in the past, while Verb了 can be used for actions in the past, present and in the future.  

For example,

• wǒ tīngshuō guo nà jiàn shìqing
  我听说过那件事情。
  I "have ever" heard (about) that "jian" (of) thing. (-I heard about it i the past)
• tā tīngshuō le nà jiàn shìqing huì bù gāoxìng
  他听说了那件事情会不高兴。
  After hearing *(about) that "jian" (of) thing he will (be) unhappy. (-he has not heard about it yet)

(2) Verb 过, the action or event is something that happened in the past, and it does not last until right now, and verb了, the action or state can last all the way until present.  

For example,

• tā qù guo nà ge dìfang
  她去过那个地方。
  She "has ever" gone to that place. (-the visit was something that has ever happened in the past)
  
• tā qù le nà ge dìfang
  她去了那个地方。
  She went to that place. (-the action of "going there" has been completed, but she might still be there)

(3) Verb 过 does not mean there is a result because the action happened, but verb 了, there is definitely a result. 

For example,

• wǒ xué guo Pǔtōnghuà
  我学过普通话。
  I "have ever" learned Mandarin. (-not necessarily know how to speak it)
  
• wǒ xué le Pǔtōnghuà
  我学了普通话。
  I learned Mandarin. (-so now I know how to speak it)

Grammar 3: Suffix 老 and Suffix 小 Before One's Family Name · HSK 2

When casually addressing people in Chinese, we can put the Suffix 老 and Suffix 小 before one's family name.

Usually, 老 is for people who are noticeably older, more senior and/or more superior than us. While 小 is for people who are noticeably younger, junior and/or inferior than us.

Both Suffix 老 and Suffix 小 can be used among friends, acquiesces and coworkers. However, when used among work place, it suggests that the situation is relaxed, informal and has some personal touch.

Also an entry-level employee might call their direct superior 老X, and the direct superior might call the entry-level employee 小X. The President/CEO of the company might also call an entry-level employee 小X, however,  the same entry-level employee almost never get to call the President/CEO 老X.

Grammar 4: Three Usages of Measure Word 件 · HSK 2

Up til this lesson, we have learned three usages of Measure Word 件. It can be used as the Measure Word for:

1. clothing: yí jiàn yīfu 一件衣服
2. gift and present: yí jiàn lǐwù 一件礼物
3. matter, thing, affair, and incident: yí jiàn shìqing 一件事情