When used to indicate locations of actions, 在 (zài) is usually placed after the subject and before the verb. There are certain cases, however, when 在 (zài) goes after the verb.

Structure

This pattern is used regularly with special types of verbs, including: 住 (zhù), 放 (fàng), 坐 (zuò), and 站 (zhàn). These are verbs that imply movement or location. Technically, the structure is called a location complement, but it can be understood without going into that much detail. Just remember that for verbs implying movement or location like the ones above, the default sentence order changes and you get this structure:

Examples

你住在上海吗？Nǐ zhù zài Shànghǎi ma? Do you live in Shanghai?
他坐在 老板的旁边。Tā zuò zài lǎobǎn de pángbiān.He sits next to the boss.
你应该站在 我后面。Nǐ yīnggāi zhàn zài wǒ hòumiàn.You should stand behind me.
不要坐在我的床上。Bùyào zuò zài wǒ de chuáng shàng.Don't sit on my bed.
你的衣服不可以放在这里。Nǐ de yīfu bù kěyǐ fàng zài zhèlǐ.You can't put your clothes here.
不要站在 路中间。Bùyào zhàn zài lù zhōngjiān.Don't stand in the middle of the road.
不要坐在 地上。Bùyào zuò zài dì shàng.Don't sit on the ground.
那本书我放在 桌子上 了。Nà běn shū wǒ fàng zài zhuōzi shàng le.I placed that book on the table.
不要走在 草地上。Búyào zǒu zài cǎodì shàng.Don't walk on the grass.
周末我不想待在 家里。Zhōumò wǒ bù xiǎng dāi zài jiā lǐ.I don't want to stay at home on weekends.

Remember that this is an exception to the normal rule. A common mistake is to over apply this and produce incorrect sentences. Note the incorrect and correct versions below.

我工作在上海。Wǒ gōngzuò zài Shànghǎi.
我在上海工作。Wǒ zài Shànghǎi gōngzuò.I work in Shanghai.
我学习在图书馆。Wǒ xuéxí zài túshūguǎn.
我在图书馆学习。Wǒ zài túshūguǎn xuéxí.I study in the library.

Structure

Examples

See Also

Sources and further reading

Books