HSK 2
V 过 # 次 O
V guò # cì O
V'ed O # times
Structure
Subject + Verb + 过 + Number + 次 + Object
How it works
The particle '过' indicates a past experience, and the measure word '次' indicates how many times the action has occurred. When the object is a common noun (not a person or place), the frequency phrase '# 次' must be placed between the verb '过' and the object.
Examples
我们看过两次电影。
Wǒmen kànguò liǎng cì diànyǐng.
We have watched movies twice.
他喝过五次中国茶。
Tā hēguò wǔ cì Zhōngguó chá.
He has drunk Chinese tea five times.
我买过三次这种咖啡。
Wǒ mǎiguò sān cì zhè zhǒng kāfēi.
I have bought this kind of coffee three times.
Common mistakes
Placing the frequency at the end of the sentence like English, e.g., saying '我看过电影两次' (incorrect for common nouns).
Tip
If the object is a person or a famous place, the frequency '次' can sometimes come after the object, but putting it before the object is always grammatically safe for HSK 2.
More HSK 2 grammar
See V 过 # 次 O in real Chinese
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