Difference between revisions of "Indicating location with "zai" before verbs"
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{{Grammar Box}} | {{Grammar Box}} | ||
− | If you | + | If you need to include the place where an action takes place, you can use 在 (zài). Just pay close attention to [[basic word order|word order]], as this is one place where Chinese word order is quite different from English. |
=== Structure === | === Structure === | ||
− | To indicate the location that a verb takes place in, 在 (zài) | + | To indicate the location that a verb takes place in, 在 (zài), followed by a location, comes before the verb. |
<div class="jiegou"> | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
− | Subj. + 在 + | + | Subj. + 在 + Place + Verb + Obj. |
</div> | </div> | ||
− | Notice that the location is placed ''before'' the verb in Chinese, whereas, in English, it appears afterwards | + | Notice that the location is placed ''before'' the verb in Chinese, whereas, in English, it appears afterwards. |
=== Examples === | === Examples === | ||
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==See also== | ==See also== | ||
* [[Expressing existence in a place with "zai"]] | * [[Expressing existence in a place with "zai"]] | ||
+ | * [[Expressing location with "zai... shang / xia / li"]] | ||
* [[Special cases of "zai" following verbs]] | * [[Special cases of "zai" following verbs]] | ||
* [[Complements with "dao", "gei" and "zai"]] | * [[Complements with "dao", "gei" and "zai"]] | ||
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{{Basic Grammar|在|A2|Subj. + 在 + Place + Verb|我 <em>在</em> 上海 工作。|grammar point|ASGX0Z0N}} | {{Basic Grammar|在|A2|Subj. + 在 + Place + Verb|我 <em>在</em> 上海 工作。|grammar point|ASGX0Z0N}} | ||
{{Similar|Expressing existence in a place with "zai"}} | {{Similar|Expressing existence in a place with "zai"}} | ||
+ | {{Similar|Expressing location with "zai... shang / xia / li"}} | ||
{{Similar|Special cases of "zai" following verbs}} | {{Similar|Special cases of "zai" following verbs}} | ||
{{Similar|Complements with "dao", "gei" and "zai"}} | {{Similar|Complements with "dao", "gei" and "zai"}} |
Revision as of 07:32, 12 March 2016
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Used for
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Keywords
If you need to include the place where an action takes place, you can use 在 (zài). Just pay close attention to word order, as this is one place where Chinese word order is quite different from English.
Structure
To indicate the location that a verb takes place in, 在 (zài), followed by a location, comes before the verb.
Subj. + 在 + Place + Verb + Obj.
Notice that the location is placed before the verb in Chinese, whereas, in English, it appears afterwards.
Examples
- 我 在 上海 上大学。I went to college in Shanghai.
- 你 一直 在 这 家 公司 工作 吗?Have you always been working in this company?
- 我 周末 想 在 家 睡觉。During the weekend, I want to sleep at home.
- 不 要 在 床 上 吃 东西。need a "上" with "在" to indicate the location " on the bed." Don't eat food on the bed.
- 你 想 在 哪儿 开 生日 派对?Where do you want have the birthday party?
- 他 喜欢 在 厕所 里 抽烟。need a "里" with "在" to indicate the location " in the bathroom." He likes to smoke in the bathroom.
- 很 多 人 在 地铁 上 吃 早饭。need a "上" with "在" to indicate the location " in the subway." Many people eat breakfast on the subway.
- 现在 我们 在 KTV 唱歌。Now we're at KTV singing songs.
- 老板 在 会议室 见 客户。The boss is seeing the client in the meeting room.
- 你 在 外面 吃 过 晚饭 了 吗?Did you eat dinner outside?
Notice that in English we usually put the location at the end of a sentence. This is different in Chinese, as we put the location after the subject, but before the verb.
See also
- Expressing existence in a place with "zai"
- Expressing location with "zai... shang / xia / li"
- Special cases of "zai" following verbs
- Complements with "dao", "gei" and "zai"