What is the difference between 了 and 过?
After a verb, 了 marks that the action is completed (我吃了早饭), and at the end of a sentence it marks a change (下雨了, 我饿了). 过 marks experience: you have done it at least once at some unspecified time (我去过北京 — I have been to Beijing). Negate 了 with 没 and drop the 了 (我没吃); negate 过 with 没 and keep the 过 (我没去过).
| 了 | completed action: 我买了一本书; new situation: 天黑了 |
|---|---|
| 过 | experience, have ever: 你吃过火锅吗？ 我没去过上海。 |
了 le
From the readings on this site
- 好的，我买了。OK, I'll take it.HSK 1 · 买东西
- 今天天气太热了！The weather today is way too hot!HSK 1 · 太热了
- 我买了五个小苹果。I bought five small apples.HSK 1 · 买水果
过 guo
From the readings on this site
- 蛋糕不大，也不太甜，可是那是我吃过的最好吃的蛋糕。The cake was not big and it was not very sweet, but it was the best cake I have ever eaten.HSK 3 · 难忘的生日
- 现在我每天坐地铁上班，再也没有迟到过，地铁真方便！Now I take the subway to work every day and haven't been late once — the subway is so convenient!HSK 3 · 地铁真方便
- 我上个月去旅行，钱包一次也没打开过。Last month I went traveling, and I never opened my wallet even once.HSK 4 · 无现金社会