Lesson 5 - Verbs: Continual

When expressing a continual action, such as 'I am playing computer games', we use the word '在' (zai4).

Simply add 在 (zai4) in front of the verb.

For example,

1. 我 在吃 饭。(wo3 zai4 chi1 fan4) - I am eating rice.
2. 他 在看 电视。(ta1 zai4 kan4 dian4 shi4) - He is watching TV.
3. 你 在学 中文。(ni3 zai4 xue2 zhong1 wen2) - You are learning Chinese.
4. 她 在玩 电脑游戏。(ta1 zai4 wan2 dian4 nao3 you2 xi4) - She is playing computer games.

To negate the sentences, simply add a 不 (bu4) in front of 在 (zai4)。

For example,

1. 他 不在踢 球。(ta1 bu4 zai4 ti1 qiu2) - He is not kicking ball. (He is not playing football)
2. 你 不在写 字。(ni3 bu4 zai4 xie3 zi4) - You are not writing (word).

To emphasise on the current continual action, simply add a '正' (zheng4) in front of 在 (zai4). Do note this is rather formal and not used widely unless  there is a real need to emphasise on the continual tense.

For example,

1. 她 正在玩 电脑游戏。(ta1 zheng4 zai4 wan2 dian4 nao3 you2 xi4) - She IS PLAYING computer games.

This 正 addition cannot be used in the negative tense.