Difference between revisions of "Expressing actions in progress with "zai""
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{{Grammar Box}}  
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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. You can use 正在 (zhèngzài) to put a little more emphasis on the action as ''ongoing'' or ''in progress''.
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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. You can use 正在 (zhèngzài) to put a little more emphasis on the action as''in progress right now''.
  
 
== Structure ==
 
== Structure ==
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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. 正在 (zhèngzài) usually shows that the action is in progress. 在+verb is more common to use than 正在+verb, but both are okay to use. As mentioned, the only small difference is that 正在 (zhèngzài) emphasizes that the action is happening now. In many cases you can even leave these words out, so instead of saying: "我在看书。" you say: "我看书。"
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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+verb is more common to use than 正在+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''.  
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==
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*[[Aspect particle "zhe"]]
 
*[[Aspect particle "zhe"]]
 
*[[Expressing actions in progress (full form)]] (more advanced usage)
 
*[[Expressing actions in progress (full form)]] (more advanced usage)

Revision as of 05:37, 18 September 2014

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) to put a little more emphasis on the action asin progress right now.

Structure

Subject + 在 + Verb + Object

or

Subject + 正在 + Verb + Object

Examples

  • 她 在 看 书。She is reading.
  • 我们 正在 吃 饭。We are currently eating.
  • 我 在 喝 啤酒。I am drinking beer.
  • 他 现在 在 开会，没 有 时间 见 你。He is currently in a meeting, he doesn't have time to see you.
  • 我 在 上网。I am surfing the internet.
  • 我 现在 在 上班。I am currently at work.
  • 我们 正在 上课，请 你 等 一会儿。We are currently in class, please wait a moment.
  • 我 妈妈 正在 做 饭。My mom is currently preparing a meal.
  • 十 点 的时候，她 正在 看 电影。When it was ten o'clock, she was watching a movie.
  • 你 给 我 打电话 的时候，我 正在 跟 朋友 喝酒。When you called me, I was with friends drinking alcohol.

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+verb is more common to use than 正在+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.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books


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