Expressing actions in progress with "zai"
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.
The structure is:
Subject + 在 + Verb + Object
or
Subject + 正在 + Verb + Object
Some examples:
- 她 在 看 报纸
- 我 在 喝 啤酒。
- 我们 正在 学习 中文。
- 他们 正在 跳舞。
See also
- Aspect particle "zhe"
- Expressing actions in progress (full form) (more advanced usage)
Sources and further reading
Books
- Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar (pp. 41-2) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 209-210) →buy
- New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2) (pp. 218-9) →buy
