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

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* [[Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar]] (pp. 41-42) [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]  
 
* [[Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar]] (pp. 41-42) [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]  
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1]] (pp. 209 - 210) [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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* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 209 - 210) [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]
 
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2)]] (pp. 218 - 219) [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]
 
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2)]] (pp. 218 - 219) [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]
  
 
[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:A2 grammar points]]

Revision as of 03:14, 5 January 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.

The structure is:

Subject + 在 + Verb + Object

or

Subject + 正在 + Verb + Object

Some examples:

  • 看 报纸
  • 喝 啤酒。
  • 我们 正在 学习 中文。
  • 他们 正在 跳舞。

See also

Sources and further reading

Books