ChineseGrammarWiki/MD/A1/28.mw

{{Grammar Box}} 

Use 没有 (méiyǒu) to negate past actions (to say that someone ''didn't do'' something, or something ''didn't happen'').

== Structure ==

Usually verbs can be [[Standard negation with bu|negated with 不 (bù)]], but that construction is used for habitual or present actions. If the verb is about an action '''in the past''', though, 没有 (méiyǒu) should be used:

<div class="jiegou">

Subj. + 没有 / 没 + Verb

</div>

Note that you can shorten 没有 (méiyǒu) to just 没 (méi).

== Examples ==

<div class="liju">

*我 <em>没有</em> 去 上班。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>méiyǒu</em> qù shàngbān.</span><span class="trans">I didn't go to work.</span>
*他们 <em>没有</em> 说话。<span class="pinyin">Tāmen <em>méiyǒu</em> shuōhuà.</span><span class="trans">They didn't speak.</span>
*我 <em>没有</em> 喝 你 的 啤酒。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>méiyǒu</em> hē nǐ de píjiǔ.</span><span class="trans">I didn't drink your beer.</span>
*她 <em>没有</em> 看到 你。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>méiyǒu</em> kàndào nǐ.</span><span class="trans">She didn't see you.</span>
*我 <em>没有</em> 吃 早饭。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>méiyǒu</em> chī zǎofàn.</span><span class="trans">I didn't eat breakfast.</span>
*宝宝 <em>没</em> 哭。<span class="expl">有 has been omitted here.</span><span class="pinyin">Bǎobao <em>méi</em> kū.</span><span class="trans">The baby didn't cry.</span>
*你 昨天 <em>没</em> 回家 吗？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zuótiān <em>méi</em> huíjiā ma?</span><span class="trans">You didn't go back home yesterday?</span>
*老板 今天 <em>没</em> 来 吗？<span class="pinyin"> Lǎobǎn jīntiān <em>méi​</em> lái ma?</span><span class="trans">The boss didn't come today?</span>
*老师 今天 <em>没</em> 生气 。<span class="pinyin"> Lǎoshī jīntiān <em>méi</em> shēngqì.</span><span class="trans">The teacher didn't get angry today.</span>
*妈妈 晚上 <em>没</em> 做饭。<span class="pinyin"> Māma wǎnshang <em>méi</em> zuòfàn.</span><span class="trans">Mom didn't cook food this evening.</span>

</div>

== Go Easy on the 了 (le) ==

One thing you need to remember when using 没有 (méiyǒu) is that '''了 (le) is not normally used with 没有 (méiyǒu)'''. [[了|了 (le)]] marks completed actions, while 没有 (méiyǒu) is used for actions that ''didn't happen'' (so of course they're not completed). These two don't work together. This is a very common mistake for beginner learners of Chinese.

<div class="liju">
<ul>
<li class="x">我 <em>没有</em> 做 <strong>了</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>méiyǒu</em> zuò <strong>le</strong>.</span></li>
<li class="o">我 <em>没有</em> 做。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>méiyǒu</em> zuò.</span><span class="trans">I didn't do it.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>

==See also==

*[[Negation of "you"]]
*[[Standard negation with "bu"]]

== Sources and further reading ==

=== Books ===

* [[Practicing HSK Grammar (语法精讲精炼)]] (p. 32) [http://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B001N6R7DI&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B001N6R7DI →buy]
* [[现代汉语八百词（增订本）]]  (p. 383) [http://www.amazon.cn/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E5%85%AB%E7%99%BE%E8%AF%8D/dp/B001198GSW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345693275&sr=8-1 →buy]
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 138-9) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385 →buy]

===Videos===

* Yoyo Chinese: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMaE2w7C5qI&list=PL94A5E422FB99CDDD&index=12 Negation with 没]

[[Category:A1 grammar points]]
[[Category:Verbs]]
[[Category:Adverbs]]
{{Used for|Denying and refusing}}
{{Used for|Referring to the past}}
{{Basic Grammar|没|A1|没有 + Verb|我 <em>没有</em> 去 酒吧。|grammar point|ASGAUCXK}}
{{Rel char|没有}}
{{Similar|Negation of "you"}}   
{{Similar|Standard negation with bu}}
{{Similar|Comparing "bu" and "mei"}}
{{POS|Verbs}}
{{Subprop|Verb phrases}}