Difference between revisions of "Special cases of "zai" following verbs"

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* 你 的 衣服 不可以 放 <em>在 这里</em>。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ de yīfu bùkěyǐ fàng <em>zài zhèlǐ</em>. </span> <span class="trans">You can't put your clothes here. </span>
 
* 你 的 衣服 不可以 放 <em>在 这里</em>。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ de yīfu bùkěyǐ fàng <em>zài zhèlǐ</em>. </span> <span class="trans">You can't put your clothes here. </span>
 
* 不要 站 <em>在 路 中间</em>。<span class="pinyin">Bùyào zhàn <em>zài lù zhōngjiān</em>. </span> <span class="trans">Don't stand in the middle of the road. </span>
 
* 不要 站 <em>在 路 中间</em>。<span class="pinyin">Bùyào zhàn <em>zài lù zhōngjiān</em>. </span> <span class="trans">Don't stand in the middle of the road. </span>
* 孩子 喜欢 <em>坐 在 地 上</em> 玩。<span class="pinyin">Háizi xǐhuan <em>zuò zài dìshang</em> wán. </span> <span class="trans">Kids like sitting on the ground and palying. </span>
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* 孩子 喜欢 <em>坐 在 地 上</em> 玩。<span class="pinyin">Háizi xǐhuan <em>zuò zài dìshang</em> wán. </span> <span class="trans">Kids like sitting on the ground and playing. </span>
 
* 那 本 书 我 放 <em>在 桌子 上</em> 了。<span class="pinyin">Nà běn shū wǒ fàng <em>zài zhuōzi shang</em> le. </span> <span class="trans">I placed that book on the table. </span>
 
* 那 本 书 我 放 <em>在 桌子 上</em> 了。<span class="pinyin">Nà běn shū wǒ fàng <em>zài zhuōzi shang</em> le. </span> <span class="trans">I placed that book on the table. </span>
 
* 不要 <em>走 在 草地 上</em>。<span class="pinyin">Búyào <em>zǒu zài cǎodìshang</em>. </span> <span class="trans">Don't walk on the grass. </span>
 
* 不要 <em>走 在 草地 上</em>。<span class="pinyin">Búyào <em>zǒu zài cǎodìshang</em>. </span> <span class="trans">Don't walk on the grass. </span>

Revision as of 09:51, 16 March 2016

When used to indicate locations, 在 (zài) is usually placed after the subject and before the verb does not apply. Sometimes, however, 在 (zài) goes after the verb. This occurs regularly with special types of verbs, including: 住 (zhù), 放 (fàng), 坐 (zuò), 站 (zhàn).

Structure

These are verbs that imply movement or location. Technically, the structure is called a location complement, but it can be understood without going into that much detail. Just remember that for verbs implying movement or location like the ones above, the rule changes and you get this structure:

Subj. + [Special Verb] + 在 + Location

Examples

  • 你 住 在 上海 吗?Nǐ zhù zài Shànghǎi ma? Do you live in Shanghai?
  • 他 坐 在 老板 的 旁边Tā zuò zài lǎobǎn de pángbiān. He sits next to the boss.
  • 你 应该 站 在 我 后面Nǐ yīnggāi zhàn zài wǒ hòumian. You should stand behind me.
  • 不要 坐 在 我 的 床 上 Bùyào zuò zài wǒ de chuáng shang. Don't sit on my bed.
  • 你 的 衣服 不可以 放 在 这里Nǐ de yīfu bùkěyǐ fàng zài zhèlǐ. You can't put your clothes here.
  • 不要 站 在 路 中间Bùyào zhàn zài lù zhōngjiān. Don't stand in the middle of the road.
  • 孩子 喜欢 坐 在 地 上 玩。Háizi xǐhuan zuò zài dìshang wán. Kids like sitting on the ground and playing.
  • 那 本 书 我 放 在 桌子 上 了。Nà běn shū wǒ fàng zài zhuōzi shang le. I placed that book on the table.
  • 不要 走 在 草地 上Búyào zǒu zài cǎodìshang. Don't walk on the grass.
  • 周末 我 不想 待 在 家 里Zhōumò wǒ bù xiǎng dāi zài jiā lǐ. I don't want to stay at home on weekends.

Remember that this is an exception to the normal rule. A common mistake is to over apply this and produce incorrect sentences. Note the incorrect and correct versions below.

  • 我 工作 在 上海Wǒ gōngzuò zài Shànghǎi. I work located in Shanghai. (incorrect)
  • 在 上海 工作。zài Shànghǎi gōngzuò. I work in Shanghai. (correct)
  • 我 学习 在 图书馆Wǒ xuéxí zài túshūguǎn. I study located in the library. (incorrect)
  • 在 图书馆 学习。zài túshūguǎn xuéxí. I study in the library. (correct)

See also

Books