Example 1:
我爸爸在医院工作。
Pinyin: Wǒ bàba zài yīyuàn gōngzuò.
English: My dad works at the hospital.
Analysis: A classic example of the `在 + Location + Verb` structure. `在医院` (at the hospital) sets the location before stating the action `工作` (to work).
Example 2:
你在做什么?
Pinyin: Nǐ zài zuò shénme?
English: What are you doing?
Analysis: Here, `在` is used to indicate an ongoing action. It is placed before the verb `做` (zuò - to do), forming the progressive tense. This is an extremely common question in daily conversation.
Example 3:
我的书不在桌子上。
Pinyin: Wǒ de shū bú zài zhuōzi shàng.
English: My book is not on the table.
Analysis: This shows the negative form. The negation word `不` (bù) is placed directly before `在`. Notice `桌子上` (zhuōzi shàng) means “on the table,” a common pattern where a location word like `上` (shàng - on) follows the noun.
Example 4:
A: 喂,是王老师吗? (Wèi, shì Wáng lǎoshī ma?) - Hello, is that Teacher Wang?
B: 我在,请说。 (Wǒ zài, qǐng shuō.) - Yes, speaking. (Literally: I am here, please speak.)
Analysis: In this context, `我在` is used on the phone to confirm one's presence. It's a very common and natural response. Here, `在` acts as the main verb.
Example 5:
他们在讨论一个很重要的问题。
Pinyin: Tāmen zài tǎolùn yí ge hěn zhòngyào de wèntí.
English: They are discussing a very important problem.
Analysis: Another example of the progressive tense. `在` indicates the action `讨论` (tǎolùn - to discuss) is happening right now.
Example 6:
你的猫在哪里?
Pinyin: Nǐ de māo zài nǎlǐ?
English: Where is your cat?
Analysis: This is the question form for location. `在哪里` (zài nǎlǐ) means “at where?”. `在` is the main verb of the sentence.
Example 7:
在我看来,这个计划是最好的。
Pinyin: Zài wǒ kànlái, zhège jìhuà shì zuì hǎo de.
English: In my opinion, this plan is the best.
Analysis: This shows `在` used in an abstract sense. `在我看来` is a set phrase meaning “in my view” or “from my perspective.”
Example 8:
我们上个周末在朋友家开了个派对。
Pinyin: Wǒmen shàng ge zhōumò zài péngyou jiā kāi le ge pàiduì.
English: We had a party at a friend's house last weekend.
Analysis: This demonstrates that the `在 + Location + Verb` structure works for past events too. The particle `了` (le) after the verb `开` (kāi) indicates the completed action, but the location phrase `在朋友家` still comes before it.
Example 9:
很多年轻人喜欢在网上购物。
Pinyin: Hěn duō niánqīngrén xǐhuān zài wǎngshàng gòuwù.
English: A lot of young people like to shop online.
Analysis: This shows `在` used with a modern, virtual location: `网上` (wǎngshàng - on the internet). The principle remains the same.
Example 10:
他不在,他出去了。
Pinyin: Tā bú zài, tā chūqù le.
English: He's not in, he went out.
Analysis: A simple, two-part sentence showing the negative use of `在` as a verb. `不在` means “not present” or “not here.”