Difference between revisions of "Expressing existence in a place with "zai""
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* 他们 <em>在</em> 英国。<span class="pinyin">Tāmen <em>zài</em> Yīngguó.</span><span class="trans">They're in England.</span> | * 他们 <em>在</em> 英国。<span class="pinyin">Tāmen <em>zài</em> Yīngguó.</span><span class="trans">They're in England.</span> | ||
* 老板 <em>在</em> 外面。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>zài</em>wàimian.</span><span class="trans">The boss is outside.</span> | * 老板 <em>在</em> 外面。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>zài</em>wàimian.</span><span class="trans">The boss is outside.</span> | ||
| + | * 他 <em>在</em> 学校。<span class="pinyin">Tā<em>zài</em> xuéxiào.</span><span class="trans">I'm at school.</span> | ||
* 她 现在 <em>在</em> 家 吗？<span class="pinyin">Tā xiàn zài<em>zài</em> jiā ma？</span><span class="trans">Is she now home?</span> | * 她 现在 <em>在</em> 家 吗？<span class="pinyin">Tā xiàn zài<em>zài</em> jiā ma？</span><span class="trans">Is she now home?</span> | ||
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* 你 <em>在</em> 公司 吗？<span class="expl">(Literally: "Are you at the company?")</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>zài</em> gōngsī ma?</span><span class="trans">Are you at the office?</span> | * 你 <em>在</em> 公司 吗？<span class="expl">(Literally: "Are you at the company?")</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>zài</em> gōngsī ma?</span><span class="trans">Are you at the office?</span> | ||
* 老师 早上 <em>在</em> 办公室 吗？<span class="pinyin"> Lǎoshī zǎoshàng <em>zài</em> bàngōngshì ma?</span><span class="trans">Is the teacher in the office this morning?</span> | * 老师 早上 <em>在</em> 办公室 吗？<span class="pinyin"> Lǎoshī zǎoshàng <em>zài</em> bàngōngshì ma?</span><span class="trans">Is the teacher in the office this morning?</span> | ||
Revision as of 06:46, 17 September 2015
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The verb 在 (zài) expresses existence in a place, similar to how we say in English, "to be located in".
Structure
The verb 在 (zài) is used to express existence in a place. English does not have a verb that covers this, and instead uses "to be" with a preposition. In Chinese, 在 (zài) covers both of these.
Subj. + 在 + Place
Remember that you don't need another verb in this construction. It can be tempting to try use 是 (shì), as English uses "to be", but this is not correct. 在 (zài) is the only verb needed.
Examples
- 我 在 上海。I'm in Shanghai.
- 他们 在 英国。They're in England.
- 老板 在 外面。The boss is outside.
- 他 在 学校。I'm at school.
- 她 现在 在 家 吗？Is she now home?
- 你 在 公司 吗？(Literally: "Are you at the company?")Are you at the office?
- 老师 早上 在 办公室 吗？Is the teacher in the office this morning?
- 谁 在 洗手间？Who is in the bathroom?
- 我 和 朋友 在 酒吧。I'm with a friend at a bar.
- 你们 明天 在 北京 吗？ Are you in Beijing tomorrow?
