Introduce Time/Locality - 在
引出时间、处所 — 在
The preposition 在 introduces a place or moment. It comes BEFORE the verb to indicate where the action takes place in space or time.
Structure
Subject + 在 + Place/Timing + Verb
Elements
在
How to use it
- To say
Examples
我在家吃饭。
wǒ zài jiā chī fàn。
I eat at home.
他在学校学习。
tā zài xuéxiào xuéxí。
He studies at school.
她在北京工作。
tā zài běi gōngzuò。
She works in Beijing.
我在这里。
wǒ zài zhèlǐ.
I am here.
Notes and exceptions
- In French, the place often comes after the verb
- in Chinese, it comes BEFORE.
- 在 : to be at; in the middle of. This verb means "to exist" or "to be alive".
Common mistakes
- *我去了在家 → 我在家去了: the place introduced by 在 comes before the verb.
Practice quiz
Choose the best option for each sentence, then submit to view the correction.
1. 我____家吃饭。
(I eat at home.)
2. 他____学校学习。
(He studies at school.)
3. 她____北京工作。
(She works in Beijing.)
4. 我____这里。
(I am here.)