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

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* 你 住 <em>在</em> <strong>上海</strong>吗?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zhù <em>zài</em> <strong>Shànghǎi</strong>ma? </span> <span class="trans">Do you live in Shanghai? </span>
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* 你 住 <em>在</em> <strong>上海</strong>吗?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zhù <em>zài</em> <strong>Shànghǎi</strong> ma? </span> <span class="trans">Do you live in Shanghai? </span>
 
* 他 坐 <em>在</em> <strong>老板 的 旁边</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Tā zuò <em>zài</em>  <strong>lǎobǎn de pángbiān</strong>. </span> <span class="trans">He sits next to the boss. </span>
 
* 他 坐 <em>在</em> <strong>老板 的 旁边</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Tā zuò <em>zài</em>  <strong>lǎobǎn de pángbiān</strong>. </span> <span class="trans">He sits next to the boss. </span>
 
* 你 应该 站 <em>在</em> <strong>我 后面</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ yīnggāi zhàn <em>zài</em> <strong>wǒ hòumiàn</strong>. </span> <span class="trans">You should stand behind me. </span>
 
* 你 应该 站 <em>在</em> <strong>我 后面</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ yīnggāi zhàn <em>zài</em> <strong>wǒ hòumiàn</strong>. </span> <span class="trans">You should stand behind me. </span>
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* 你 的 衣服 不 可以 放 <em>在</em><strong> 这里</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ de yīfu bù kěyǐ fàng <em>zài</em> <strong>zhèlǐ</strong>. </span> <span class="trans">You can't put your clothes here. </span>
 
* 你 的 衣服 不 可以 放 <em>在</em><strong> 这里</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ de yīfu bù kěyǐ fàng <em>zài</em> <strong>zhèlǐ</strong>. </span> <span class="trans">You can't put your clothes here. </span>
 
* 不要 站 <em>在 </em><strong>路 中间</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Bùyào zhàn <em>zài</em><strong> lù zhōngjiān</strong>. </span> <span class="trans">Don't stand in the middle of the road. </span>
 
* 不要 站 <em>在 </em><strong>路 中间</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Bùyào zhàn <em>zài</em><strong> lù zhōngjiān</strong>. </span> <span class="trans">Don't stand in the middle of the road. </span>
* 孩子 喜欢 坐 <em>在 </em><strong>地 上</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Háizi xǐhuanzuò <em>zài</em> <strong>dìshàng</strong>. </span> <span class="trans">Kids like sitting on the ground. </span>
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* 不要 坐 <em>在 </em><strong>地 上</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Bùyào zuò <em>zài</em> <strong>dì shàng</strong>. </span> <span class="trans">Don't sit on the ground. </span>
 
* 那 本 书 我 放 <em>在</em><strong> 桌子 上</strong> 了。<span class="pinyin">Nà běn shū wǒ fàng <em>zài</em> <strong>zhuōzi shàng </strong> le. </span> <span class="trans">I placed that book on the table. </span>
 
* 那 本 书 我 放 <em>在</em><strong> 桌子 上</strong> 了。<span class="pinyin">Nà běn shū wǒ fàng <em>zài</em> <strong>zhuōzi shàng </strong> le. </span> <span class="trans">I placed that book on the table. </span>
 
* 不要 走 <em>在 </em><strong>草地 上</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Búyàozǒu <em>zài</em><strong> cǎodì shàng</strong>. </span> <span class="trans">Don't walk on the grass. </span>
 
* 不要 走 <em>在 </em><strong>草地 上</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Búyàozǒu <em>zài</em><strong> cǎodì shàng</strong>. </span> <span class="trans">Don't walk on the grass. </span>
* 周末 我 不想 待 <em>在</em> <strong>家 里</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Zhōumò wǒ bù xiǎngdāi <em>zài</em> <strong>jiā  lǐ</strong>. </span> <span class="trans">I don't want to stay at home on weekends. </span>
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* 周末 我 不 想 待 <em>在</em> <strong>家 里</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Zhōumò wǒ bù xiǎng dāi <em>zài</em> <strong>jiā  lǐ</strong>. </span> <span class="trans">I don't want to stay at home on weekends. </span>
  
 
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Revision as of 02:45, 11 January 2017

When used to indicate locations of actions, 在 (zài) is usually placed after the subject and before the verb. There are certain cases, however, when 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 上海吗?Nǐ zhù zài Shànghǎi ma? Do you live in Shanghai?
  • 他 坐 老板 的 旁边Tā zuò zài lǎobǎn de pángbiān. He sits next to the boss.
  • 你 应该 站 我 后面Nǐ yīnggāi zhàn zài wǒ hòumiàn. You should stand behind me.
  • 不要 坐 我 的 床 上Bùyào zuò zài wǒ de chuáng shàng. Don't sit on my bed.
  • 你 的 衣服 不 可以 放 这里Nǐ de yīfu bù kěyǐ fàng zài zhèlǐ. You can't put your clothes here.
  • 不要 站 路 中间Bùyào zhàn zài lù zhōngjiān. Don't stand in the middle of the road.
  • 不要 坐 地 上Bùyào zuò zài dì shàng. Don't sit on the ground.
  • 那 本 书 我 放 桌子 上 了。Nà běn shū wǒ fàng zài zhuōzi shàng le. I placed that book on the table.
  • 不要 走 草地 上Búyàozǒu zài cǎodì shàng. Don't walk on the grass.
  • 周末 我 不 想 待 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 上海。Wǒ gōngzuò zài Shànghǎi.
  • 上海工作。zài Shànghǎi gōngzuò. I work in Shanghai.
  • 我 学习 图书馆。Wǒ xuéxí zài túshūguǎn.
  • 图书馆学习。zài túshūguǎnxuéxí. I study in the library.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books