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

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{{Grammar Box}}
 
{{Grammar Box}}
在 (zài) and 正在 (zhèngzài) can be used as an [[auxiliary verb]] to express that an action is ''ongoing'' or ''in progress''. This is often the equivalent of ''present continuous'' in English.
+
在 (zài) and 正在 (zhèngzài) can be used as an [[auxiliary verb]] to express that an action is ''ongoing'' or ''in progress''. This is often the equivalent of ''present continuous'' in English. 正在 emphasizes ''ongoing'' or ''in progress'' of an action a bit more than 在。
  
 
== Structure ==
 
== Structure ==
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* 她 <em>在</em> 看 报纸
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* 她 <em>在</em> 看 书。
 
* 我 <em>在</em> 喝 啤酒。
 
* 我 <em>在</em> 喝 啤酒。
* 我们 <em>正在</em> 学习 中文。
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* 我们 <em>正在</em> 上课,请 稍等。
* 他们 <em>正在</em> 跳舞。
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* 你们 <em>正在</em> 吃饭,我 过 会儿 再 说。
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
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[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
 
{{Used for|Referring to the present }}
 
{{Used for|Referring to the present }}
{{Basic Grammar|在|A2|(正)在 + V|<em>在</em> 看 书。他 <em>正在</em> 吃饭。|grammar point|ASG846EA}}
+
{{Basic Grammar|在|A2|(正)在 + V|<em>在</em> 看 书。你们 <em>正在</em> 吃饭,我 过 会儿 再 说。|grammar point|ASG846EA}}
 
{{Rel char|正在}}
 
{{Rel char|正在}}
 
{{Similar|Aspect particle "zhe"}}   
 
{{Similar|Aspect particle "zhe"}}   

Revision as of 07:07, 21 August 2012

在 (zài) and 正在 (zhèngzài) can be used as an auxiliary verb to express that an action is ongoing or in progress. This is often the equivalent of present continuous in English. 正在 emphasizes ongoing or in progress of an action a bit more than 在。

Structure

Subject + 在 + Verb + Object

or

Subject + 正在 + Verb + Object

Examples

  • 看 书。
  • 喝 啤酒。
  • 我们 正在 上课,请 稍等。
  • 你们 正在 吃饭,我 过 会儿 再 说。

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

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