在
marker for an action in progress
HSK 1
Lesson 11 · 我读大学呢
What you'll learn
Say what someone is doing now, use affirmative-negative questions, and use `要` for wants or plans.
1
Listen and Read
Listen to an after-class plan: what someone is doing now, whether they will go back to school, and what they want to do.
小林
小方，你在做什么呢？
Xiao Fang, what are you doing?
小方
我正在找书。
I am looking for a book.
小林
你今天回不回学校？
Are you going back to school today?
小方
我不回，我要找书。
I am not going back. I want to look for a book.
小林
你忙不忙？
Are you busy?
小方
很忙，我读大学呢。
Very busy. I am studying at university.
小林
你回不回家？
Are you going home or not?
小方
我不回家，我要读书。
I am not going home. I want to read.
2
Core Words
First learn the study-status words and the marker for an action in progress.
正在
right now; in the process of
呢
particle used with an ongoing action
读
to study; to attend school
大学
university; college
大学生
university student
忙
busy
3
Pattern: `正在 + 动词`
Start with the clearest and easiest pattern to copy.
正在 + 动词
To say someone is doing something now, use `正在 + verb` first. `我正在学习` means I am studying. `读大学呢` can be understood as still in university; here, just learn to hear and read it.
我正在学习。
I am studying.
我正在找书。
I am looking for a book.
我读大学呢。
I am studying at university; I still attend university.
4
Quick Practice
Recognize the in-progress expression.
Complete the sentence: `他____读书。`
Which option shows that he is reading now?
5
Core Words
Remember only the most useful words in the main thread.
学校
school
找
to look for
要
to want; to plan to
6
Pattern: `动词 + 不 + 动词`
Put the affirmative and negative forms together to ask whether someone will do something.
动词 + 不 + 动词
To ask whether someone will do an action, say the verb twice with `不` in the middle. In this lesson, first learn `去不去` and `回不回家`.
你去不去学校？
Are you going to school or not?
你回不回家？
Are you going home or not?
你忙不忙？
Are you busy?
7
Quick Practice
Practice affirmative-negative questions.
Which sentence asks `Are you going home or not?`
Choose the best affirmative-negative question.
8
Pattern: `主语 + 要 + 动词/动词短语`
`要` goes before a verb and means wanting or planning to do something.
主语 + 要 + 动词/动词短语
`要` can mean wanting or planning to do something. It is followed directly by the action and does not need `是`.
我要学习中文。
I want to study Chinese.
他要去学校。
He plans to go to school.
我要读书。
I want to read.
9
Quick Practice
Recognize the meaning of `要`.
Which sentence best answers `你今天要做什么？`
Choose the option that shows a plan.
10
Learning Note
Turn `正在`, `回不回`, and `要` into your own short questions and answers.
Repeat the two sentence groups below, then replace the action with studying Chinese, reading, or looking for a book. Use short sentences first.
你在做什么呢？我正在读书。
What are you doing? I am reading.
你回不回家？我不回家，我要读书。
Are you going home or not? I am not going home. I want to read.
11
Learning Note
Finally, read the three core expression types smoothly.
The must-know sentences are `我正在学习。`, `你回不回家？`, and `我要读书。` Listen first, then read.
我正在学习。
I am studying.
你回不回家？
Are you going home or not?
我要读书。
I want to read.