<p>I think the distinction is a soft one, rather than compulsory.
When you stress you have done something and there is some action or change in the process, use <code>過</code>.
When you stress you have completed doing something, use <code>了</code>; it is somewhat like perfection, but see below.</p>
<p>For brevity, call</p>
<pre><code>(a)昨天我去买一台电脑
(b)昨天我去买了一台电脑
(c)昨天我去买過一台电脑
</code></pre>
<p>(a) is okay but rare, sounds a bit dry. It reminds me of a very formal narrative without sentiment (in a fiction), or a formal speech.</p>
<p>(b), however, is very common. It occurs to me German usage of auxiliary <code>haben</code> &quot;have&quot; (or <code>sein</code> for a group of verbs such as <code>gehen</code> and <code>kommen</code>) is also soft: it does not strongly stress perfection, but loosely equivalent to English past tense.</p>
<p>(c) is okay but somewhat dubious, probably because <code>買</code> occurs within a short moment, and little is &quot;taking place&quot;.
But consider the context: You and your friends are talking about a computer sales in that store who is very bad-tempered, and you say, <code>昨天我去買過一台電腦，店員真的好兇啊!</code> you are stressing you really have seen him, and he is really bad-tempered. This is perfect. You have tried something, and found something new.</p>
<p>I can think of a good example: as of <code>愛</code> (following Enrico's example), one usually says <code>我愛他</code>, but it is odd to say <code>我愛過他</code>. Why? because it changes little visible to &quot;love&quot; someone.
But does it have its own appropriate context? yes! Consider: A and B are talking about C. Now A reveals to B that A and C once had a relationship, but broke up.
Still somewhat remorseful, A remarks: <code>我愛過他</code> It is appropriate then. (as a side remark, <code>愛</code> is so formal-sounding and really uncommon in spoken Mandarin, no matter parental love or romantic love....at least in Taiwan I think.)</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2016-11-29T12:13:48.057Z
2020-06-26T10:20:00.327Z
2020-06-26T10:20:00.327Z
Violapterin
<p>I think it makes more sense to say that the verbal suffix 了 is not used with certain actions/events rather than with certain verbs. Typically, 了 is not used in the following cases when the actions/events are non-intentional (in these cases, 到 is used):</p>
<ol>
<li>他昨天看到姚明。(He happened to see Yao Ming yesterday.)</li>
<li>我今天早上收到一个从中国来的包裹。(I happened to receive a parcel from China this morning.)</li>
<li>我最近听到一些坏消息。(I happened to hear some bad news lately.)</li>
<li>你们有没有捡到一个黑色的钱包？(Did you happen to find a black wallet?)</li>
</ol>
<p>If we use the same verbs with 了, the actions/events are interpreted as intentional:</p>
<ul>
<li>1a. 你的报告我看了两遍，写得不错。(I have read (seen) your report twice. Well done.)</li>
<li>2a. 这家咖啡店真贵，一杯咖啡收了我十五块钱。(This coffee house is really expensive. They
charged me (collected from me) 15 dollars for a cup of coffee.)</li>
<li>3a. 我听了他们的意见，但还是失败了。(I took (listen to) their advice, but in the end
I still failed.)</li>
<li>4a. 我捡了整天垃圾，累死了。(I have been picking up trash the whole day long. I
am exhausted.)</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-26T14:50:57.993Z
2020-06-26T14:50:57.993Z
KK_Tse
<p>Many of my students have this question. And what you are trying to ask is not which verbs don't use 了, but <strong>which verbs don't use 了 to express past tense</strong>.</p>

<p>Basicaly Mandarin "separates" verbs into action verbs and stative verbs. So, any verb that is not an action, for example, 有 是 在 etc don't express past tense using 了.</p>

<p>Here's a small list. Since I'm not a native speaker, I'm not sure what is an action or not in Chinese. Hopefully someone can help us make a more detailed one:<br>
是<br>
有<br>
在<br>
"mental" verbs: 知道、喜欢、爱、etc.<br>
modal verbs: 应该、要、会、能、可以、etc.<br>
adjectives</p>

<p>If the above verbs take 了, it indicates a change of state. For example:<br>
我是大学生了。 I'm a graduate student <strong>now</strong>.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-16T20:39:58.360Z
assuming Q only concerns ＂了＂as 动态助词 not 语气助词，cf。＂实用现代汉语语法＂动态‌​助词｜一、动态助词＂了＂２。状态动词与动态‌​助＂了＂｜状态动词不表示动作，而表示一种状‌​态。这种状态有起点、可以持续，没有终点，或‌​语言表达不关心其终点。如＂饿＂、＂生气＂、‌​＂累＂、＂困＂、＂病＂、＂醉＂等。状态动词‌​用上＂了＂，表示状态出现。例如：（１）为了‌​帮你打毕业论文，他已经累  **了**  三天了。这个句子的意思是＂累＂的状态已经‌​出现，而且还在持续。（２）老师病 **了**  三天了。这个句子与上面的句子一样，表示＂‌​病＂的状态已经出现，持续了＂三天＂，而且还‌​在持续。某些形容词，如＂高兴＂、＂贵＂、＂‌​红＂、＂亮＂也有类似的用法。例如：（３）在‌​会上，他的脸红  **了**  一阵子，又白了，白 **了**  一阵子，又红起来，真是如坐针毯。这个句子‌​中＂红了一阵＂、＂白了一阵＂中的＂了＂都表‌​示状态结束。
user6065
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-16T15:37:19.733Z
2016-08-16T15:37:19.733Z
Enrico Brasil
<p>昨天我去买了一台电脑 is correct.
When you use chinese sentenses which have a meaning similar to English sentence of present perfect or past perfect, 过 or 了 should always be used.</p>

<p>eg. 我通过了这次考试。I have passed the exam.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-05T08:24:23.820Z
2016-10-05T08:24:23.820Z
LILY
<p>I remember reading that some verbs don't accept 了 or 过.</p>

<p>Side question： When I use a word like 昨天 or 以前 do I use 了 or is it redundant? e.g. 昨天我去买了一台电脑 or 昨天我买一台电脑 </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-14T23:57:48.847Z
I don't know any verb that doesn't accept 了 or 过.  "昨天我去买了一台电脑"  is correct
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-15T01:18:10.050Z
cf.＂实用现代汉语语法＂关于动词成句的问题｜五、下列动词后一般不能用动态助词＂了＂、＂着＂、＂过＂或补语（但句末可以用动态（就是语气？）助词＂了＂）：１。关系动词＂是＂、＂作为＂等；２。表示使动意义的＂使＂、＂叫＂、＂让＂等；３。能愿动词；４。＂觉得＂、＂显得＂、＂以为＂等动词不能用动态助词和补语；＂知道＂、＂认识＂、＂明白＂、＂承认＂和＂有＂不能补语，通常也不用动态助词，但表示＂由不知道到知道＂、＂由无到有＂这一改变时，可以用＂了＂。例如：（１）他又有了一个新的女朋友。比较：他有女朋友，我没有女朋友。（２）昨天在晚会上他认识了很多人。比较：这个人我认识。（３）他刚才承认了这件事是他干的。（意思是＂以前他不承认＂）比较：他承认这件事是他干的。
user6065
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-11-06T09:59:38.567Z
If you use 昨天 without 了, it sounds like: When I was going to buy a computer yesterday, (something happened).
user23013
<grammar><mandarin>
Which verbs DO NOT go with 了 and or 过?
# Which verbs DO NOT go with 了 and or 过?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-08-14)

I remember reading that some verbs don't accept 了 or 过.

Side question： When I use a word like 昨天 or 以前 do I use 了 or is it redundant? e.g. 昨天我去买了一台电脑 or 昨天我买一台电脑

**Tags:** grammar, mandarin

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I don't know any verb that doesn't accept 了 or 过.  "昨天我去买了一台电脑"  is correct  
> **username_2**: cf.＂实用现代汉语语法＂关于动词成句的问题｜五、下列动词后一般不能用动态助词＂了＂、＂着＂、＂过＂或补语（但句末可以用动态（就是语气？）助词＂了＂）：１。关系动词＂是＂、＂作为＂等；２。表示使动意义的＂使＂、＂叫＂、＂让＂等；３。能愿动词；４。＂觉得＂、＂显得＂、＂以为＂等动词不能用动态助词和补语；＂知道＂、＂认识＂、＂明白＂、＂承认＂和＂有＂不能补语，通常也不用动态助词，但表示＂由不知道到知道＂、＂由无到有＂这一改变时，可以用＂了＂。例如：（１）他又有了一个新的女朋友。比较：他有女朋友，我没有女朋友。（２）昨天在晚会上他认识了很多人。比较：这个人我认识。（３）他刚才承认了这件事是他干的。（意思是＂以前他不承认＂）比较：他承认这件事是他干的。  
> **username_3**: If you use 昨天 without 了, it sounds like: When I was going to buy a computer yesterday, (something happened).  

---

## 4 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2016-11-29. Score: 2

I think the distinction is a soft one, rather than compulsory.
When you stress you have done something and there is some action or change in the process, use `過`.
When you stress you have completed doing something, use `了`; it is somewhat like perfection, but see below.

For brevity, call

```
(a)昨天我去买一台电脑
(b)昨天我去买了一台电脑
(c)昨天我去买過一台电脑

```

(a) is okay but rare, sounds a bit dry. It reminds me of a very formal narrative without sentiment (in a fiction), or a formal speech.

(b), however, is very common. It occurs to me German usage of auxiliary `haben` "have" (or `sein` for a group of verbs such as `gehen` and `kommen`) is also soft: it does not strongly stress perfection, but loosely equivalent to English past tense.

(c) is okay but somewhat dubious, probably because `買` occurs within a short moment, and little is "taking place".
But consider the context: You and your friends are talking about a computer sales in that store who is very bad-tempered, and you say, `昨天我去買過一台電腦，店員真的好兇啊!` you are stressing you really have seen him, and he is really bad-tempered. This is perfect. You have tried something, and found something new.

I can think of a good example: as of `愛` (following username_6's example), one usually says `我愛他`, but it is odd to say `我愛過他`. Why? because it changes little visible to "love" someone.
But does it have its own appropriate context? yes! Consider: A and B are talking about C. Now A reveals to B that A and C once had a relationship, but broke up.
Still somewhat remorseful, A remarks: `我愛過他` It is appropriate then. (as a side remark, `愛` is so formal-sounding and really uncommon in spoken Mandarin, no matter parental love or romantic love....at least in Taiwan I think.)


---

### Answer by username_5 on 2020-06-26. Score: 1

I think it makes more sense to say that the verbal suffix 了 is not used with certain actions/events rather than with certain verbs. Typically, 了 is not used in the following cases when the actions/events are non-intentional (in these cases, 到 is used):

1. 他昨天看到姚明。(He happened to see Yao Ming yesterday.)
2. 我今天早上收到一个从中国来的包裹。(I happened to receive a parcel from China this morning.)
3. 我最近听到一些坏消息。(I happened to hear some bad news lately.)
4. 你们有没有捡到一个黑色的钱包？(Did you happen to find a black wallet?)

If we use the same verbs with 了, the actions/events are interpreted as intentional:

* 1a. 你的报告我看了两遍，写得不错。(I have read (seen) your report twice. Well done.)
* 2a. 这家咖啡店真贵，一杯咖啡收了我十五块钱。(This coffee house is really expensive. They
  charged me (collected from me) 15 dollars for a cup of coffee.)
* 3a. 我听了他们的意见，但还是失败了。(I took (listen to) their advice, but in the end
  I still failed.)
* 4a. 我捡了整天垃圾，累死了。(I have been picking up trash the whole day long. I
  am exhausted.)


---

### Answer by username_6 on 2016-08-16. Score: 1

Many of my students have this question. And what you are trying to ask is not which verbs don't use 了, but **which verbs don't use 了 to express past tense**.

Basicaly Mandarin "separates" verbs into action verbs and stative verbs. So, any verb that is not an action, for example, 有 是 在 etc don't express past tense using 了.

Here's a small list. Since I'm not a native speaker, I'm not sure what is an action or not in Chinese. Hopefully someone can help us make a more detailed one:  
是  
有  
在  
"mental" verbs: 知道、喜欢、爱、etc.  
modal verbs: 应该、要、会、能、可以、etc.  
adjectives

If the above verbs take 了, it indicates a change of state. For example:  
我是大学生了。 I'm a graduate student **now**.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: assuming Q only concerns ＂了＂as 动态助词 not 语气助词，cf。＂实用现代汉语语法＂动态‌​助词｜一、动态助词＂了＂２。状态动词与动态‌​助＂了＂｜状态动词不表示动作，而表示一种状‌​态。这种状态有起点、可以持续，没有终点，或‌​语言表达不关心其终点。如＂饿＂、＂生气＂、‌​＂累＂、＂困＂、＂病＂、＂醉＂等。状态动词‌​用上＂了＂，表示状态出现。例如：（１）为了‌​帮你打毕业论文，他已经累  **了**  三天了。这个句子的意思是＂累＂的状态已经‌​出现，而且还在持续。（２）老师病 **了**  三天了。这个句子与上面的句子一样，表示＂‌​病＂的状态已经出现，持续了＂三天＂，而且还‌​在持续。某些形容词，如＂高兴＂、＂贵＂、＂‌​红＂、＂亮＂也有类似的用法。例如：（３）在‌​会上，他的脸红  **了**  一阵子，又白了，白 **了**  一阵子，又红起来，真是如坐针毯。这个句子‌​中＂红了一阵＂、＂白了一阵＂中的＂了＂都表‌​示状态结束。  

---

### Answer by username_7 on 2016-10-05. Score: -1

昨天我去买了一台电脑 is correct.
When you use chinese sentenses which have a meaning similar to English sentence of present perfect or past perfect, 过 or 了 should always be used.

eg. 我通过了这次考试。I have passed the exam.


---

