Chinese Grammar Reference logo

    Chinese Grammar

    Negating past actions with 没有 (méiyǒu) as an adverb

    HSK 1
    Aspect & Tense
    Negation

    Structure

    Subject + 没有 + Verb

    Explanation

    没有 placed before a verb negates a past action, meaning the action did not happen. Unlike 不, which negates habits or intentions, 没有 specifically denies that a completed event occurred. For example, 我没有吃 means "I didn't eat" and 他没有来 means "He didn't come."

    Examples

    • 我昨天没有去上班。

      wǒ zuótiān méiyǒu qù shàngbān.

      I didn't go to work yesterday.

    • 她没有告诉我这件事。

      tā méiyǒu gàosù wǒ zhè jiàn shì.

      She didn't tell me about this.

    • 我们还没有决定去哪里。

      wǒmen hái méiyǒu juédìng qù nǎlǐ.

      We haven't decided where to go yet.

    Similar Grammar

    Often Confused With