HSK 2 · 句子成分/句型

Actions in progress

正在……呢

Say that an action is happening right now, or ask what someone is doing.

Pattern

主语 + 正在/正 + 动词 (+ 呢)

Say that an action is happening right now, or ask what someone is doing.

How it works

正在 or 正 before a verb shows an action in progress. 呢 at the end is optional but common in spoken Chinese: 我正在看书呢.

在 + place tells you where someone is; 正在/在 + verb tells you what is happening. Context and the verb make the difference clear.

Negate with 没(有)在 + verb: 他没在睡觉. Ask 你在做什么？ or 你正在看书吗？

Examples

妈妈正在做饭。

mā ma zhèng zài zuò fàn。

Mom is cooking.

我正在看书呢。

wǒ zhèng zài kàn shū ne。

I am reading.

他正在打电话。

tā zhèng zài dǎ diàn huà。

He is making a phone call.

你在做什么？

nǐ zài zuò shén me？

What are you doing?

外面在下雨。

wài miàn zài xià yǔ。

It is raining outside.

Common mistakes

我正在吃饭了。

我正在吃饭。

Do not add 了 to an action that is still in progress.

他是正在看书。

他正在看书。

Do not add 是 before 正在; 正在 already marks the ongoing action.

In real dialogues

See it in use

All dialogues

Getting sick 生病

HSK 2

Read dialogue

还没有。我正想去买药。

hái méi yǒu。wǒ zhèng xiǎng qù mǎi yào。

Not yet. I was just about to go buy some medicine.

Moving house 搬家

HSK 3

Read dialogue

我在忙着搬家。原来的房子旁边在修路，太吵了。

wǒ zài máng zhe bān jiā。yuán lái de fáng zi páng biān zài xiū lù，tài chǎo le。

I've been busy moving. They're building a road next to my old place, and it's too noisy.

Quick practice

Check your understanding

Choose an answer to see the explanation. These questions are a quick check, not a score.

1. Fill the blank: 妈妈 ___ 做饭。

2. Which sentence means “I am reading”?

3. Choose the negative form of 他在睡觉。

4. Fill the blank: 外面 ___ 下雨。

5. Translate “What are you doing?”