著 着 zhe grammar Ongoing action Aspect Particle

Existential Sentences with Posture Verbs

Posted on by tiffany

What are Existential Sentences:

Existential sentences are used to talk about the existence or presence of someone or something in a particular place. They answer questions like:

  • What is there?
  • Who is at a place?
  • What is on/in something?

What are Posture Verbs:

Posture verbs describe a person or object’s physical position or pose.

  • 坐 zuò – to sit
  • 站 zhàn – to stand
  • 躺 tǎng – to lie down
  • 蹲 dūn – to squat

Actually a lot of Non-Posture verbs can also apply for this structure.

  • 挂 guà – to hang
  • 放 fàng – to put
  • 住 zhù – to live
  • 走 zǒu – to walk
  • 来 lái – to come
  • 写 xiě – to write
  • 贴 tie – to stick

Structure

Location + Posture Verb + 着 zhe + Subject/Object

It indicates a continuous state. Used to show that someone or something is in a certain posture or position and remains that way at the moment being referred to.

门口ménkǒu站zhàn着zhe一yí位wèi警察jǐngchá
There’s a police officer standing at the door.

地上dìshàng躺tǎng着zhe一yì只zhǐ狗gǒu
There’s a dog lying on the ground.

白板báibǎn上shang写xiě着zhe今天jīntiān的de作业zuòyè
Today’s homework is written on the whiteboard.

桌子zhuōzi上shang放fàng着zhe一yì本běn书shū
There’s a book placed on the table.

墙qiáng上shang挂guà着zhe一yì幅fú画huà
There’s a painting hanging on the wall.

Location + Posture Verb + 了 le + Subject/Object

It indicates a completed action or change. When used in existential sentences with posture verbs, 了 suggests that the action of assuming the posture has already occurred and may or may not be continuing.

门口ménkǒu站zhàn了le一yí位wèi警察jǐngchá
A police officer came and stood at the door.

地上dìshang躺tǎng了le一yì只zhǐ狗gǒu
A dog lay down on the ground.

白板báibǎn上shang写xiě了le一yí句jù话huà
A sentence was written on the whiteboard.

墙qiáng上shang挂guà了le一yì幅fú新xīn画huà
A new painting has been hung on the wall.

桌子zhuōzi上shang放fàng了le一yì杯bēi水shuǐ
A glass of water was placed on the table.

Do you like it? 🙂