The Tense of Ongoing – 着(zhe)

着 (zhe)

 

As a dynamic auxiliary word, “着” can be used in the following situations.

1.  “着” is preceded by a verb to indicate that an action is going on. In this case, “正/在/正在” can be used before the verb and “呢” is often added at the end of the sentence.

Verb +

e.g.

着呢,他就出门了。(Yǔ zhèng xiàzhe ne, tā jiù chūmén le.) He went out while it was raining.

着呢,电话就响了。(Wǒ zhèng shuìzhe ne, diànhuà jiù xiǎngle.) I was asleep when the phone rang.

着呢,你说。(Wǒ zài tīng zhe ne, nǐ shuō.) I’m listening, you say.

 

“Verb + 着” can indicate the continuation of an action. Note that the verb here must not be instantaneous, such as 买,卖,寄,死, etc.

e.g.

外面雨。(Wàimiàn xiàzhe yǔ.) It’s raining outside.

同学们都在你。(Tóngxuémen dōu zài děngzhe nǐ.) Your classmates are waiting for you.

 

And the negative form can’t use 不. “着” is not used after the verb either in the negative form.

Subject + 没 + Verb

 e.g.

外面下雨。(Wàimiàn méi xià yǔ.) It’s not raining outside.

同学们等你。(Tóngxuémen méi děng nǐ.) The classmates are not waiting for you.

 

2.  “着” is preceded by a verb or an adjective to indicate the continuation of a state.  The verb here must not be instantaneous, such as 买,打, etc.

Verb +

e.g.

家里有人。你看,灯着呢。(Jiā lǐ yǒurén. Nǐ kàn, dēng kāi zhe ne.) There are people in the house. Look, the lights are on.

今天他穿一件黄衣服。(Jīntiān tā chuānzhe yī jiàn huáng yīfú.) Today he is wearing a yellow dress.

水还着呢,请喝水。(Shuǐ hái rè zhene, qǐng hē shuǐ.) The water is still hot, please drink.

Notes:

1) “了” can’t be used in this case.

2) “正/在/正在” cannot be used before the verb.

2) The negative form can’t use 不.

Subject + 没 + Verb + 着

e.g.

电脑。(Diànnǎo méi kāizhe.) The computer is not on.

孩子们。(Háizimen méi zuòzhe.) The children are not sitting.

 

3.  “着” could be used to indicate the existence of somebody or something, which is equivalent to “there be……”.

Place + Verb + 着 + somebody / something

e.g.

教室里放很多书。(Jiàoshì lǐ fàngzhe hěnduō shū.) There are many books in the classroom.

那栋楼住三家人。(Nà dòng lóu zhù zhe sān jiārén.) Three families live in that building.

桌子上坐一个小孩。(Zhuōzi shàng zuòzhe yígè xiǎohái.) There is a child sitting at the table.

 

4.  “着” can be used to connect two actions and indicate two actions take place simultaneously. The first action is the manner or accompaniment of the second one.

Verb 1 + 着 + Verb 2

e.g.

了。(Tā kūzhe zǒule.) He cried and left.

书。(Wǒ zhànzhe dúshū.) I read while standing.

那个人打电话。(Nàgè rén pǎozhe dǎ diànhuà.) That person called while running.

 

5.  “着” can be used to indicate that the second action occurs when the first action is going on.

Verb 1 着 + Verb 1 着 + Verb 2

e.g.

睡着睡着了起来。(Tā shuìzhe shuìzhe jiù xiàole qǐlái.) He fell asleep and laughed.

我们走着走着,外面开始下雨了。(Wǒmen zǒuzhe zǒuzhe, wàimiàn kāishǐ xià yǔ le.) As we walked, it started to rain outside.

老人坐着坐着睡着了。(Lǎorén zuòzhe zuòzhe jiù shuìzháo le.) The old man fell asleep while sitting.

1. 电视开着呢。(Diànshì kāizhe ne.)
2. 外面的门关呢。(Wàimiàn de mén ɡuān.)
3. 桌子上放一支笔。(Zhuōzishanɡ fànɡ yì zhī bǐ.)
4. 外面的雪一直下着。(Wàimiàn de xuě yìzhí xià zhe.)
5. 他的左边坐着一个中国人。(Tā de zuǒbiɑn zuò zhe yí ɡe Zhōnɡɡuó rén.)
6. 他哭说对不起。(Tā kū shuō duìbuqǐ.)

 

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5 Responses

  1. Correct version: 柜子里挂三条裙子。There are three dresses hanging in the closet. ***add 着

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