Chinese Multimedia

Grammar Notes for lesson 16

Use of the 正 在 V 着 O 呢 zhènzài V zhe O ne sentence pattern

This sentence pattern indicates that an action is under way. Note that some of the elements of this pattern can be omitted: all the following sentences mean he is watching TV.
1. 他 正 在 看 着 电 视 呢 tā zhènzài kàn zhe diànshì ne full version
2. 他 正 看 着 电 视 呢 tā zhèng kànzhe diànshì ne  without  在 zài
3. 他 在 看 着 电 视 呢 tā zài kànzhe diànshì ne without  正 zhèng
4. 他 正 在 看 电 视 呢 tā zhèngzài kàn diànshì ne without 着 zhe
5. 他 正 在 看 着 电 视 tā zhèngzài kàn zhe diànshì without 呢 ne
6. 他 在 看 电 视 呢 tā zài kàn diànshì ne  without 正 zhèng and 着 zhe
7. 他 看 电 视 呢 tā  kàn diànshì ne without 正 zhèng , 在 zài and 着 zhe
(See lesson 9)

V 着 zhe O

The V 着 zhe O pattern can be used in the following two situations:
1. It is used to describe how something has been left, as in 桌 上 放 着 一 本 书 zhuō shàng fàngzhe yì běn shū there is a book left on the table; 墙 上 写 着 三 个 字 qiáng shàng xiě zhe sān ge zì there are three characters written on the wall; 门 开 着 mén kāi zhe the door has been left open.
2. It can also be used to make this action simultaneous with the main verb in the sentence, as in 她 唱 着 歌 回 家 tā chàngzhe gē huí jiā she went home singing.