Special cases of "zai" following verbs

When used to indicate locations, 在 (zài) is usually placed immediately after the subject. However, there are exceptions to this rule.

In some cases, the usual rule for location preceding the verb does not apply. Instead, it goes after the verb. This often occurs with particular verbs, including: 住 (zhù), 放 (fàng), 坐 (zuò), 站 (zhàn).

Structure

These are verbs that imply movement or location. Technically, the structure is called a location complement, but it can be understood without going into that much detail. Just remember that for verbs implying movement or location like the ones above, the rule changes and you get this structure:

Subj. + [Special verb] + 在 + Location

Examples

• 你 住 在 上海 吗？Nǐ zhù zài Shànghǎi ma? Do you live in Shanghai?
• 那 本 书 我 放 在 桌子 上 了。 Nà běn shū wǒ fàng zài zhuōzi shang le. I placed that book on the table.
• 他 坐 在 老板 的 旁边。Tā zuò zài lǎobǎn de pángbiān. He sits next to the boss.
• 你 应该 站 在 我 后面 。Nǐ yīnggāi zhàn zài wǒ hòumian. You should stand behind me.
• 不要 扔 在 地 上。Bùyào rēng zài dìshang. Don't throw on the ground.
• 你 的 衣服 应该 放 在 这里 。 Nǐ de yīfu yīnggāi fàng zài zhèlǐ. You should put your clothes here.
• 不要 站 在 路 中间 。 Bùyào zhàn zài lù zhōngjiān. Don't stand in the middle of the road.
• 孩子 总是 喜欢 坐 在 地 上 。 Háizi zǒngshì xǐhuan zuò zài dìshang. Kids always like sitting on the ground.
• 我男朋友 不想 待 在 这 家 公司 了。 bù huì dāi zài zhè jiā gōngsī. He won't stay in this company.
• 不要 走 在 草地 上。Búyào zǒu zài cǎodìshang. Don't walk on the grass.

Remember that this is an exception to the normal rule. A common mistake is to over apply this and produce incorrect sentences. Note the incorrect and correct versions below.

• 我 工作 在 上海 。 Wǒ gōngzuò zài Shànghǎi. I work located in Shanghai. (incorrect)
• 我 在 上海 工作 。 Wǒ zài Shànghǎi gōngzuò. I work in Shanghai. (correct)
• 我 学习 在 图书馆 。 Wǒ xuéxí zài túshūguǎn. I study located in the library. (incorrect)
• 我 在 图书馆 学习 。 Wǒ zài túshūguǎn xuéxí. I study in the library. (correct)

See also

• Expressing existence in a place
• Using "zai" with verbs
• Complements with "dao", "gei" and "zai"

Books

• Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (pp. 104-105) →buy