Lesson
Fourteen (A)
What are you doing
Basic expressions
In Chinese, the form of a verb is unchanged no matter at what stage the action takes place. Thus some adverbs, particles and time words are used to indicate the different stages of an action. The word
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1. |
zhèngzài |
正在 |
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…ing/ZHENGZAI |
is placed before verbs to indicate that an action is in progress. Let’s learn the following.
a. wŏ zhèngzài xuéxi hànyŭ.
我 正在 学习 汉语。
I ZHENGZAI study Chinese
I are studying Chinese.
b. Tāngmŭ zhèngzài dă diànhuà.
汤姆 正在 打 电话。
Tom ZHENGZAI make phone call
Tom is making a phone call.
c. shéi zhèngzài shuō Hànyŭ?
谁 正在 说 汉语？
who ZHENGZAI say Chinese
Who is speaking Chinese?
d. tā zhèngzài zhăo shénme ?
她 正在 找 什么？
she ZHENGZAI look what
What is she looking for?
Zhèng 正 or zài 在can be omitted as in:
wŏmen zhèng xué Hànyŭ
我们 正 学 汉语。
we ZHENG studying Chinese. or
wŏmen zài xué Hànyŭ
我们 在 学 汉语。
we ZAI studying Chinese
We are studying Chinese.
The negative form for this sentence pattern is méi zài 没在, which is placed before verbs.
e. wŏmen méi zài xuéxí Hànyŭ.
我们 没 在 学习 汉语。
we not ZAI study Chinese
We are not studying Chinese.
f. Tāngmŭ méizài dă diànhuà.
汤姆 没 在 打 电话。
Tom not ZAI make phone call
Tom is not making a phone call
g. shéi méi zài shuō Hànyŭ?
谁 没 在 说 汉语？
who not ZAI speak Chinese
Who is not speaking Chinese?
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2. |
le |
了 |
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modal particle |
LE |
The particle le 了is placed after main verbs, or at the end of sentences to indicate the completion of actions,
as in
zuótiān wŏ qù yóujú le.
昨天 我 去 邮局 了。
yesterday I go post office LE
Yesterday I went to the post office.
Méi 没 is placed before verbs to form a negative sentence as in
zuótian wŏ méi (you) qù yóujú.
昨天 我 没 (有) 去 邮局。
Yesterday I not go post office
You will hear the following words in the dialogue.
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3. |
hăo jiŭ |
好 久 |
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long time |
good long time |
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4. |
duōcháng |
多 长 |
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how long |
how long |
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5 |
gàn |
干 |
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do |
do |
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6 |
Yīngyǔ |
英 语 |
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English language |
English language |