When to use 过， when to use 了？

pod_eater
 August 14, 2008, 12:03 PM posted in General Discussion

I have a question about describing things that have happened in the past.

For instance, if i want to say "I gave you...", what is the most correct way to say it?

我给过你...

or

我给了你...

or even at the end?

我给你...了

I am always unsure of what to use when...

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shiqiangdan
 August 14, 2008, 01:05 PM

I gave you would be wo gei ni... le. If you say wo gei guo ni... it means you HAVE given me something. You aren't referring to a specific incidence where you gave me something, you are just stating that it has happened in the past.

Jordan

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pod_eater
 August 14, 2008, 01:17 PM

so, if I understand you correctly

我给你...了 = I gave you...

and

我给过你... = I have given you...

is that right?

so another example could be:

我吃你了。 = I ate you.

我吃过你。 = I have eaten you.

now would this also be true?:

我吃过你了 = I have eaten you.

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shiqiangdan
 August 14, 2008, 03:20 PM

Yes. That's right ;) The last sentence is also right. Having the le at the end is actually better than without. I forgot to put it after the '...' in my example. Glad I could help.

Jordan

 

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pod_eater
 August 14, 2008, 04:00 PM

Wow, thanks again! :)