<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 Enrico'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.


---

