Difference between revisions of "Expressing actions in progress with "zai""

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在 (zài) and 正在 (zhèngzài) can be used as [[auxiliary verb|auxiliary verbs]] to express that an action is ''ongoing'' or ''in progress''. This is often the equivalent of ''present continuous'' in English, which is how we express that an activity is happening ''now''.
 
在 (zài) and 正在 (zhèngzài) can be used as [[auxiliary verb|auxiliary verbs]] to express that an action is ''ongoing'' or ''in progress''. This is often the equivalent of ''present continuous'' in English, which is how we express that an activity is happening ''now''.
  
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There is no need to worry too much about when to use 在 (zài) or 正在 (zhèngzài), since they basically mean the same thing. 正在 (zhèngzài) usually shows that the action is in progress. "在 (zài) + Verb" is more commonly used than "正在 (zhèngzài) + Verb," but both are okay to use. As mentioned, the only small difference is that 正在 (zhèngzài) emphasizes that the action is happening ''right now'' (or "right at that moment" when talking about the past).
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There is no need to worry too much about when to use 在 (zài) or 正在 (zhèngzài), since they basically mean the same thing. 正在 (zhèngzài) usually shows that the action is in progress (''right now''). "在 (zài) + Verb" is more commonly used than "正在 (zhèngzài) + Verb," but both are fine to use.
  
 
== See Also ==
 
== See Also ==
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=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
  
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* [[Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar]] (pp. 41-2) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1933330899/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=1933330899 →buy]
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{{Source|HSK Standard Course 1|100}}
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* [[Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition]] (pp. 60-1) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415372615/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0415372615 →buy]
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{{Source|Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar|41-2}}
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* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 209-10) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385 →buy]
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{{Source|Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition|60-1}}
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* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2)]] (pp. 218-9) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561911297/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561911297 →buy]
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{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)|209-10}}
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{{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2)|218-9}}
  
 
[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
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{{HSK|HSK1}}{{2021-HSK|HSK1}}
 
{{Used for|Referring to the present }}
 
{{Used for|Referring to the present }}
 
{{Used for|Indicating conditions}}
 
{{Used for|Indicating conditions}}
 
{{Used for|Describing actions}}
 
{{Used for|Describing actions}}
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{{Basic Grammar|在|A2|(正)在 + Verb|我们 <em>正在</em> 吃饭。|grammar point|ASG846EA}}
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{{Basic Grammar|在|A2|(正) 在 + Verb|我们 <em>正在</em> 吃饭。|grammar point|ASG846EA}}
 
{{Rel char|正在}}
 
{{Rel char|正在}}
 
{{Rel char|正}}
 
{{Rel char|正}}

Latest revision as of 09:23, 20 April 2021

在 (zài) and 正在 (zhèngzài) can be used as auxiliary verbs to express that an action is ongoing or in progress. This is often the equivalent of present continuous in English, which is how we express that an activity is happening now.

You can use 正在 (zhèngzài) instead of just 在 (zài) to put a little more emphasis on an action that is in progress right now.

Structure

Subj. + 在 + Verb + Obj.

or

Subj. + 正在 + Verb + Obj.

Examples

  • 她 在 看 书。Tā zài kànshū.She is reading.
  • 妈妈 在 打 电话。Māma zài dǎ diànhuà.Mom is making a phone call.
  • 谁 在 里面 洗澡？Shéi zài lǐmiàn xǐzǎo?Who is taking a shower in there?
  • 阿姨 正在 打扫 我们 的 房间。Āyí zhèngzài dǎsǎo wǒmen de fángjiān.The cleaning lady is cleaning our room right now.
  • 昨天 晚上 七点，我们 在 吃饭。Zuótiān wǎnshang qīdiǎn, wǒmen zài chīfàn. Yesterday at 7pm, we were eating dinner.
  • 老板 在 开会，没有 时间 见 你。Lǎobǎn zài kāihuì, méiyǒu shíjiān jiàn nǐ.The boss is currently in a meeting. He doesn't have time to see you.
  • 我 现在 在 上班，不方便 离开。Wǒ xiànzài zài shàngbān, bù fāngbiàn líkāi.I am working now. It's not convenient for me to leave.
  • 我们 正在 上课，请 你 等 一会儿。Wǒmen zhèngzài shàngkè, qǐng nǐ děng yīhuìr.We are in class right now; please wait a moment.
  • 你 正在 开车，不 可以 玩 手机。Nǐ zhèngzài kāichē, bù kěyǐ wán shǒujī.You're driving right now; you can't play with your cell phone.
  • 你 给 我 打 电话 的时候，我 正在 跟 朋友 打 游戏 。Nǐ gěi wǒ dǎ diànhuà de shíhou, wǒ zhèngzài gēn péngyou dǎ yóuxì.When you called me, I was playing video games with friends.

There is no need to worry too much about when to use 在 (zài) or 正在 (zhèngzài), since they basically mean the same thing. 正在 (zhèngzài) usually shows that the action is in progress (right now). "在 (zài) + Verb" is more commonly used than "正在 (zhèngzài) + Verb," but both are fine to use.

See Also

Sources and further reading

Books


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