Negation with 没(有) for 过

You take your verb and add 过 after it. Then you put 没 or 没有 before it. It is like a sandwich. The verb is the delicious filling. 没 and 过 are the bread. It describes things you haven't experienced. It covers your whole life up to now. It is not about a specific time. It is about your personal history. If you haven't done it once, use this. It is very simple once you see it. Yes, even native speakers mess this up sometimes. But you won't after today!

1. 1Start with your subject (like 我 or 你).
2. 2Add the negation word 没 or 没有.
3. 3Put your main verb next.
4. 4Add 过 right after that verb.
5. 5Finish with the object of the sentence.
6. 6Example: 我 (Subject) + 没 (Negation) + 吃 (Verb) + 过 (Marker) + 臭豆腐 (Object).
7. 7This means "I haven't eaten stinky tofu." It is a very clean structure. No messy conjugations here! Just stack the blocks and go.

Use it for life milestones. Use it for travel stories. "I haven't been to Paris." Use it for trying new foods. "I haven't tried durian." Use it for movies and books. "I haven't seen Mulan." It is perfect for job interviews too. "I haven't used this software before." It shows your professional history. Use it when someone asks if you've done something. It is the standard way to say "no" to experiences. Imagine you are at a party. Someone asks if you've tried the punch. You say 我没喝过. It is smooth and natural. It works for hobbies too. "I haven't played golf." It is your go-to for all things "new."

Don't use it for specific times. If you didn't eat breakfast today, don't use 过. That is a one-time event. It is not a "life experience." Use 过 for the "flavor" of the past. If it is a routine, skip 过. If you just forgot your keys, skip 过. It is for the "big picture" of your life. Don't use it for things happening now. It is strictly for things that didn't happen before. Also, don't use it for future plans. That would be very confusing! Keep it focused on your past experiences.

A big one is using 不. Never say 我不去过. It sounds very strange to locals. 不 is for habits or the future. Another one is keeping 了. If you have 没, you usually drop 了. They are like two captains on one ship. Only one can lead! Don't put 过 before the verb. It must follow the verb like a shadow. Also, don't forget the 过 entirely. Without it, the meaning changes completely. 我没吃 means "I didn't eat (just now)." 我没吃过 means "I have never eaten (ever)." It's a small word with a big job.

Compare 没...过 with just 没. 我没吃 is about a specific meal. Maybe you missed lunch today. 我没吃过 is about your whole life. Maybe you hate sushi and never tried it. Think of 没 as a snapshot. Think of 没...过 as a whole photo album. Another contrast is with 还没. Adding 还 means "not yet." 我还没去过 implies you plan to go. 我没去过 is just a flat fact. It is a subtle but cool difference. It makes your Chinese sound much more nuanced.