5.3 The Progressive with 在 (zài)

Ongoing action

在 (zài) before a verb marks an action in progress: 我在吃饭 (wǒ zài chīfàn) = I am eating. Often paired with 正 (zhèng) or ending 呢 (ne): 正在...呢.

在 as a location word

在 (zài) also means 'at / in / to be located': 我在学校 (wǒ zài xuéxiào) = I am at school. Context and position tell you which meaning applies.

Negation

Negate an ongoing action with 没(有): 我没在睡觉 (I'm not sleeping). To say something isn't in a place, use 不在: 他不在家 (he's not home).

Key terms

在 + verb

action in progress: 我在吃饭 (I'm eating)

正…呢

zhèng…ne — reinforces ongoing action

在 (location)

'at / in': 我在学校 (I'm at school)

不在

not located at: 他不在家 (he's not home)

Negate progressive

没(有): 我没在睡觉

Try an AP-style question

"我在看书" means…

1. I will read
2. I read in the book
3. I read yesterday
4. I am reading