Difference between revisions of "Indicating location with "zai" before verbs"

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Notice that the location is placed ''before'' the verb in Chinese, whereas it appears afterwards in English.
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Notice that the location is placed ''before'' the verb in Chinese, whereas it appears afterwards in English. And often you need a "里" with "在",after a thing to indicate the location.
  
 
== Examples ==
 
== Examples ==
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* 我 <em>在 上海</em> 工作。<span class="trans">I am working in Shanghai.</span>
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* 我 <em>在</em> <strong>上海</strong> 工作。<span class="trans">I am working in Shanghai.</span>
* 我 <em>在 酒吧</em> 喝 酒。<span class="trans">I am drinking at the bar.</span>
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* 我 <em>在</em> <strong>酒吧</strong> 喝 酒。<span class="trans">I am drinking at the bar.</span>
* 他 <em>在 图书馆</em> 看 书。<span class="trans">He is reading in the library.</span>
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* 他 <em>在</em> <strong>图书馆</strong> 看 书。<span class="trans">He is reading in the library.</span>
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* 我<em>在</em> <strong>这 个 公司</strong>工作。
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* 我 周末 要 <em>在</em> <strong>家</strong> 睡觉。
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* 不 要 <em>在</em> <strong>床 上</strong> 吃 东西。<span class="expl">need a "上" with "在" to indicate the location " on the bed".</span>
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* 我 想 <em>在</em> <strong>家</strong> 开 一 个 派对。
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* 他 喜欢<em>在</em> <strong>厕所 里</strong> 抽 烟。<span class="expl">need a "里" with "在" to indicate the location " in the bathroom".</span>
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* 很 多 人<em>在</em> <strong>地铁 里</strong> 吃 包子。<span class="expl">need a "里" with "在" to indicate the location " in the subway".</span>
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* 现在 我们 <em>在</em> <strong>KTV</strong> 唱 歌。
  
 
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Revision as of 05:51, 20 November 2013

When you want to express the place in which you do something, you can use 在 (zai).

Structure

To indicate the location that a verb takes place in, 在 is used.

Subject + 在 + Location + Verb + Object

Notice that the location is placed before the verb in Chinese, whereas it appears afterwards in English. And often you need a "里" with "在",after a thing to indicate the location.

Examples

  • 上海 工作。I am working in Shanghai.
  • 酒吧 喝 酒。I am drinking at the bar.
  • 图书馆 看 书。He is reading in the library.
  • 这 个 公司工作。
  • 我 周末 要 睡觉。
  • 不 要 床 上 吃 东西。need a "上" with "在" to indicate the location " on the bed".
  • 我 想 开 一 个 派对。
  • 他 喜欢 厕所 里 抽 烟。need a "里" with "在" to indicate the location " in the bathroom".
  • 很 多 人 地铁 里 吃 包子。need a "里" with "在" to indicate the location " in the subway".
  • 现在 我们 KTV 唱 歌。

Notice that in English we usually put the location at the end of a sentence. This is different in Chinese, as we put the location after the subject but before the verb.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books