Deep End
← Grammar guides

Level Everyday Chinese · HSK 2

过 and 在: Experiences and Actions in Progress

Chinese verbs don't change for tense, but small aspect words show how an action unfolds. At A1 you met 了 for a completed action. A2 adds two more: 过 (guo) for experience, "have you ever ...?", and 在 (zài) before a verb for something in progress, "I'm doing it right now".

Think of them as answers to different questions. 了: did it happen? 过: has it ever happened? 在: is it happening now?

Verb + 过: have ever done

过 (neutral tone) goes straight after the verb, before the object. It says the experience is part of your life, usually with the sense that it's over: 我去过北京 means you've been and come back.

Negate with 没 and keep 过: 没去过. Ask with 吗 or 没有.

  • 我去过北京。

    Wǒ qù guo Běijīng.

    I've been to Beijing.

  • 你吃过北京烤鸭吗？

    Nǐ chī guo Běijīng kǎoyā ma?

    Have you ever had Peking duck?

  • 我没去过中国。

    Wǒ méi qù guo Zhōngguó.

    I've never been to China.

  • 你见过他没有？

    Nǐ jiàn guo tā méiyǒu?

    Have you ever met him?

在 / 正在 + verb (+ 呢): in progress

在 before a verb means the action is going on. 正在 stresses "right at this moment", and 呢 at the end adds a friendly, ongoing feel. Any of the three can do the job alone: 我在吃饭, 我正在吃饭, 我吃饭呢.

The progressive works for the past too, as long as a time is given: 昨天八点我在看书. Negate with 没(在): 我没在看电视.

  • 我在吃饭。

    Wǒ zài chī fàn.

    I'm eating.

  • 他正在开会呢。

    Tā zhèngzài kāi huì ne.

    He's in a meeting right now.

  • 你在做什么？

    Nǐ zài zuò shénme?

    What are you doing?

  • 昨天八点我在看书。

    Zuótiān bā diǎn wǒ zài kàn shū.

    At eight yesterday I was reading.

Choosing the aspect

Each aspect answers a different question about the action. 着, for a lasting state, has its own guide. Note the negatives: 没 cancels 了 but keeps 过.

AspectMeaningExampleNegative
了completed我看了那个电影。 I watched that film.我没看那个电影。
过ever, experience我看过那个电影。 I've seen that film.我没看过那个电影。
着lasting state门开着。 The door is open.门没开着。
在in progress我在看电影。 I'm watching a film.我没在看电影。

Common mistakes

  • ✗我去北京过。

    ✓我去过北京。

    Wǒ qù guo Běijīng.

    过 attaches directly to the verb, before the object.

  • ✗我没去过了。

    ✓我没去过。

    Wǒ méi qù guo.

    没 cancels 了, but 过 stays.

  • ✗我在喜欢他。

    ✓我很喜欢他。

    Wǒ hěn xǐhuan tā.

    在 is for actions in progress. States like 喜欢, 知道 and 是 aren't actions and don't take it.

Questions learners ask

What's the difference between 我去了北京 and 我去过北京?

我去了北京 reports one trip (and you may still be there). 我去过北京 says it's part of your experience: you've been at some point and come back.

Do I need 在 every time I'd use "-ing" in English?

No. Chinese uses it less than English uses "-ing". 我明天去北京 (I'm going to Beijing tomorrow) is a plan, not an action in progress, so there's no 在.

Practice this in lessons

The Foundations lessons teach this step by step, with exercises and review built in.

Practice this in lessons →

Related grammar guides