The structure 正在…呢
How to use 正在…呢
The structure 正在…呢 
indicates prolonged actions.
indicates prolonged actions.Scheme
subject
正在
predicate
(object)
呢
Examples
他正在睡觉呢
He is sleeping
tā zhèngzài shuìjiào ne
In this structure, 呢 can be omitted, and 正在 can be replaced by 正 or 在.
In this case, the meaning of the phrase remains the same.
Examples
花儿正盛开
Flowers are blooming
huār zhèng shèngkāi
飞机正在下降
The plane is descending
fēijī zhèngzài xiàjiàng
他在休息
He is resting
tā zài xiūxi
在 can be used by itself as a duration marker and indicate following situations:
1) frequent or ongoing action;
2) a state that lasts for a long period of time.
In this case, the sentence must contain one of the following adverbs: 又 , 一直 or 总 .
, 一直 or 总 . Pay attention
This rule does not apply to 正 and 正在.
Examples
我一直在等你
I have been waiting for you
wǒ yīzhí zài děng nǐ
如今我30了，我又在计划40岁的生活
Now that I'm 30, I'm again planning for my 40-year-old self
rújīn wǒ sānshí le, wǒ yòu zài jìhuà sìshí suì de shēnghuó
Sentences with the structure 正在…呢 and its shortened versions can refer to the present, past or future tense. To clarify the tense, one should use adverbs of time. For example:
明天
昨晚
If there is no direct marker of time, then the action is considered to be happening in the moment.
昨晚
If there is no direct marker of time, then the action is considered to be happening in the moment.Examples
昨天正在街上走着忽然碰上一个老朋友
Yesterday I was walking down the street and suddenly ran into an old friend
zuótiān zhèngzài jiē shàng zǒu zhe hūrán pèngshàng yí ge lǎo péngyou
明天你到那儿的时候，她在等你
She will be waiting for you when you’ll get there tomorrow.
míngtiān nǐ dào nǎr de shíhòu, tā zài děng nǐ
What to avoid when using 正在…呢
The structure 正在…呢 and its short forms are not used with the verbs related to:
1) possession, statements:
是
具有
叫
2) feelings, sensations, perceptions:
知道
认识
感觉
3) emotions:
喜欢
怕
4) occurrence or disappearance:
开始
生
具有
叫
2) feelings, sensations, perceptions:
知道
认识
感觉
3) emotions:
喜欢
怕
4) occurrence or disappearance:
开始
生 If there is an adverbial modifier of a place with the preposition 在 , 正在 cannot be used. In this case, 正 must be used.
, 正在 cannot be used. In this case, 正 must be used.Examples
她正在纽约准备一个展览
She is arranging an exhibition in New York
tā zhèng zài niǔyuē zhǔnbèi yí ge zhǎnlǎn
Pay attention
Do not confuse this rule with the adverb 现在 . The preposition 在 is allowed to be used with 现在.
. The preposition 在 is allowed to be used with 现在.
If the preposition 从 is used with an adverbial modifier of a place in a sentence, 在 is cannot be used in the structure.
In this case, 正 or 正在 must be used.
is used with an adverbial modifier of a place in a sentence, 在 is cannot be used in the structure.
In this case, 正 or 正在 must be used.Examples
他正从冰箱里拿出一瓶果汁
He is taking a bottle of juice out of the fridge
tā zhèng cóng bīngxiāng lǐ náchū yì píng guǒzhī
Pay attention
This structure cannot be used with 了 and result complements.
and result complements.Negative sentences with 正在…呢
Negation forms with the particles 没 or 没有
In a negative sentence, you can only use 在 without the particle 呢 in the following structure:
or 没有
In a negative sentence, you can only use 在 without the particle 呢 in the following structure:Scheme
subject
没(有)
在
predicate
(object)
Examples
我没在开玩笑
I'm not kidding
wŏ méi zài kāiwánxiào
我没有在看你们
I'm not looking at you
wŏ méiyŏu zài kàn nĭmen
Question sentences with 正在…呢
General “yes or no” questions are formed by adding the particle 吗 at the end of the sentence.
at the end of the sentence. Pay attention
In this case 呢 is omitted.
Examples
你在休息吗？
Are you resting?
nĭ zài xiūxi ma
If there is a question word in the sentence, both the full structure and its short forms can be used.
Examples
你正在做什么呢？
What are you doing?
nĭ zhèngzài zuò shénme ne
你在做什么？
What are you doing?
nĭ zài zuò shénme