When used to indicate locations of actions, 在 (zài) is usually placed
after the subject and [before the
verb](Indicating_location_with_"zai"_before_verbs "wikilink"). 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](location_complement "wikilink"), 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](Expressing_existence_in_a_place_with_"zai" "wikilink")
changes and you get this structure:

<div class="jiegou">
Subj. + \[Special Verb\] + 在 + Location

</div>
Examples
--------

<div class="liju">
-   你 住 <em>在</em> <strong>上海</strong>吗？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ
    zhù <em>zài</em> <strong>Shànghǎi</strong> ma?
    </span><span class="trans">Do you live in Shanghai? </span>
-   他 坐 <em>在</em> <strong>老板 的
    旁边</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Tā zuò <em>zài</em>
    <strong>lǎobǎn de pángbiān</strong>.</span><span class="trans">He
    sits next to the boss.</span>
-   你 应该 站 <em>在</em> <strong>我
    后面</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ yīnggāi zhàn <em>zài</em>
    <strong>wǒ hòumiàn</strong>.</span><span class="trans">You should
    stand behind me.</span>
-   不要 坐 <em>在</em><strong>我 的 床
    上</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Bùyào zuò <em>zài</em> <strong>wǒ
    de chuáng shàng</strong>.</span><span class="trans">Don't sit on my
    bed.</span>
-   你 的 衣服 不 可以 放 <em>在</em><strong>
    这里</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ de yīfu bù kěyǐ fàng
    <em>zài</em> <strong>zhèlǐ</strong>.</span><span class="trans">You
    can't put your clothes here.</span>
-   不要 站 <em>在 </em><strong>路
    中间</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Bùyào zhàn <em>zài</em><strong>
    lù zhōngjiān</strong>.</span><span class="trans">Don't stand in the
    middle of the road.</span>
-   不要 坐 <em>在 </em><strong>地
    上</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Bùyào zuò <em>zài</em> <strong>dì
    shàng</strong>.</span><span class="trans">Don't sit on the
    ground.</span>
-   那 本 书 我 放 <em>在</em><strong> 桌子 上</strong>
    了。<span class="pinyin">Nà běn shū wǒ fàng <em>zài</em>
    <strong>zhuōzi shàng </strong> le.</span><span class="trans">I
    placed that book on the table.</span>
-   不要 走 <em>在 </em><strong>草地
    上</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Búyào zǒu <em>zài</em><strong>
    cǎodì shàng</strong>.</span><span class="trans">Don't walk on the
    grass.</span>
-   周末 我 不 想 待 <em>在</em> <strong>家
    里</strong>。<span class="pinyin">Zhōumò wǒ bù xiǎng dāi
    <em>zài</em> <strong>jiā lǐ</strong>.</span><span class="trans">I
    don't want to stay at home on weekends.</span>

</div>
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.

<div class="liju">
-   我 工作 <em>在 </em>上海。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ gōngzuò
    <em>zài</em> Shànghǎi.</span>
-   我 <em>在</em> 上海工作。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>zài</em>
    Shànghǎi gōngzuò.</span><span class="trans">I work in
    Shanghai.</span>
-   我 学习 <em>在</em> 图书馆。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ xuéxí <em>zài
    </em>túshūguǎn.</span>
-   我 <em>在</em> 图书馆 学习。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>zài
    </em>túshūguǎn xuéxí.</span><span class="trans">I study in the
    library.</span>

</div>
See Also
--------

-   [Expressing existence in a place with
    "zai"](Expressing_existence_in_a_place_with_"zai" "wikilink")
-   [Indicating location with "zai" before
    verbs](Indicating_location_with_"zai"_before_verbs "wikilink")
-   [Complements with "dao," "gei," and
    "zai"](Complements_with_"dao,"_"gei,"_and_"zai" "wikilink")

Sources and further reading
---------------------------

### Books

-   [Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second
    Edition](Chinese:_An_Essential_Grammar,_Second_Edition "wikilink") (pp.
    104-105)
    [→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415372615/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0415372615)

[Category:A2 grammar points](Category:A2_grammar_points "wikilink")