Uses of 在
Uses of 在 — at/in (location) and ongoing actions
I can express location and describe ongoing actions with 在
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
我在家。
I am at home.
她在看书。
She is reading.
猫在桌子上。
The cat is on the table.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
Uses of 在
在 (zài) has two main uses: location (S + 在 + Place) and ongoing action (S + 在 + Verb). Position words (上/下/里) follow the noun.
在 + noun = location. 在 + verb = ongoing action. Don't confuse the two.
我在家。
I am at home.
我在家 — 在 + Place for location. No verb 'to be' needed separately.
她在看书。
She is reading.
她在看书 — 在 + Verb = ongoing action, like English '-ing'.
猫在桌子上。
The cat is on the table.
猫在桌子上 — 在...上 = 'on'. Position words (上/下/里) follow the noun.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises