HSK 3

PLACE + V + 着 + N

PLACE + V + zhe + N

There is N V'ed in PLACE.

Structure

Location/Place + Verb + 着 + Numeral + Measure Word + Noun

How it works

This structure is used to describe the state of a place by indicating what is currently located there as a result of an action. It emphasizes the continuous state or existence of an object rather than the action itself.

Examples

墙上挂着一张照片。

Qiáng shàng guàzhe yì zhāng zhàopiàn.

There is a photo hanging on the wall.

门外站着一个学生。

Mén wài zhànzhe yí gè xuésheng.

There is a student standing outside the door.

书架上放着很多书。

Shūjià shàng fàngzhe hěnduō shū.

There are many books placed on the bookshelf.

Common mistakes

Using the wrong word order by putting the noun first, e.g., '一张照片挂在墙上' (A photo is hanging on the wall), which is grammatically correct but emphasizes the photo, not the existence of the photo in a place.

Tip

Use this pattern when you are playing the role of a 'camera' scanning a room and describing what you see in specific spots.

More HSK 3 grammar

V 好一 + M + N + 也／都 + 不 + V 那 V1了就 V2 V 来／去 V somewhere 来／去 V O 来／去 V 来／去 O

See PLACE + V + 着 + N in real Chinese

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