Lesson 11 · Ongoing Actions and Future Plans

正在做的事

Ongoing Actions and Future Plans

3 dialogues25 new words

Start

Driving to the Restaurant

Lin and Bo are talking.

9 new words

时候shíhou(a point in) time

你知道他什么时候去饭店吗？

Do you know when he is going to the restaurant?

饭店fàndiànrestaurant

你知道他什么时候去饭店吗？

Do you know when he is going to the restaurant?

知道zhīdàoknow; realize

你知道他什么时候去饭店吗？

Do you know when he is going to the restaurant?

正在zhèngzàiin the process of

我不知道，我正在找他。

I don't know, I am looking for him right now.

找zhǎolook for

我不知道，我正在找他。

I don't know, I am looking for him right now.

开车kāichēdrive (a vehicle)

他现在是不是在开车？

Is he driving right now?

车chēvehicle

他现在是不是在开车？

Is he driving right now?

在zàiused to indicate an action in progress

我不知道，我正在找他。

I don't know, I am looking for him right now.

对duìto; towards

对，他在开车，我看见他的车了。

Yes, he is driving. I see his car.

Listen to the conversation

Lin

你知道他什么时候去饭店吗？

nǐ zhīdào tā shénme shíhou qù fàndiàn ma

Do you know when he is going to the restaurant?

我不知道，我正在找他。

wǒ bù zhīdào wǒ zhèngzài zhǎo tā

I don't know, I am looking for him right now.

Lin

他现在是不是在开车？

tā xiànzài shì bú shì zài kāichē

Is he driving right now?

对，他在开车，我看见他的车了。

duì tā zài kāichē wǒ kànjiàn tā de chē le

Yes, he is driving. I see his car.

Tap a marked word for its meaning. Tap a line to see the English.

Grammar

我不知道，我正在找他。I don't know, I am looking for him right now.

Subject +在/正在+ Verb(+ Object)(+呢)

Temporal Adverbs '在/正在'. The temporal adverbs '在' (zài) and '正在' (zhèngzài) are used before a verb to indicate that an action is currently ongoing or in progress. This structure, often paired with the modal particle '呢' at the end of the sentence, is essential for providing authoritative real-time updates on one's activities.

我正在找呢。

Wǒ zhèngzài zhǎo ne.

I am looking for it right now.

Which word means “look for”?

Studying Medicine

Teacher Mei and Lin are talking.

5 new words

读dúattend school; study

不是，我是大学生，在读大学。

No, I am a college student studying at university.

大学dàxuéuniversity; college

不是，我是大学生，在读大学。

No, I am a college student studying at university.

大学生dàxuéshēngcollege/university student

不是，我是大学生，在读大学。

No, I am a college student studying at university.

学xuéstudy; learn

不是，我是大学生，在读大学。

No, I am a college student studying at university.

医yīmedicine

你是不是在学医？

Are you studying medicine?

Listen to the conversation

Mei

你在饭店工作吗？

nǐ zài fàndiàn gōngzuò ma

Do you work at a restaurant?

Lin

不是，我是大学生，在读大学。

bú shì wǒ shì dàxuéshēng zài dú dàxué

No, I am a college student studying at university.

Mei

你是不是在学医？

nǐ shì bú shì zài xué yī

Are you studying medicine?

Lin

对，我在学医。

duì wǒ zài xué yī

Yes, I am studying medicine.

Grammar

不是，我是大学生，在读大学。No, I am a college student studying at university.

Verb/Adj +不/没+ Verb/Adj

Affirmative-Negative Questions. Affirmative-negative questions are formed by juxtaposing a verb or adjective with its negative form to create an inquiry. This powerful grammatical pattern is a hallmark of authoritative Mandarin, allowing speakers to ask direct questions about facts, states, or future actions without requiring a question particle like '吗'.

你开车没开车？

Nǐ kāichē méi kāichē?

Did you drive or not?

Fill the gap不是，我是____，在读大学。No, I am a college student studying at university.

Talking About Little Brother

Lin and Bo are talking.

11 new words

弟弟dìdiyounger brother

昨天那个小朋友是你弟弟吗？

Was that child yesterday your younger brother?

起床qǐchuángget up; get out of bed

有没有起床？

Did he get up?

睡觉shuìjiàosleep

他没起床，还在那里睡觉。

He didn't get up, he is still sleeping over there.

睡shuìsleep

他没起床，还在那里睡觉。

He didn't get up, he is still sleeping over there.

那里nàlǐthere; that place

他没起床，还在那里睡觉。

He didn't get up, he is still sleeping over there.

哪里nǎlǐwhere

他在哪里？

Where is he?

昨天zuótiānyesterday

昨天那个小朋友是你弟弟吗？

Was that child yesterday your younger brother?

问wènask

你问这个做什么？

Why do you ask about that?

说shuōspeak; talk; say

你对他说什么了？

What did you say to him?

要yàowant; wish

我问他要不要看医生，他说要睡觉。

I asked him if he wanted to see a doctor, and he said he wants to sleep.

小朋友xiǎopéngyǒuchild; kid

昨天那个小朋友是你弟弟吗？

Was that child yesterday your younger brother?

Listen to the conversation

Lin

昨天那个小朋友是你弟弟吗？

zuótiān nàge xiǎopéngyǒu shì nǐ dìdi ma

Was that child yesterday your younger brother?

对，是我弟弟。你问这个做什么？

duì shì wǒ dìdi nǐ wèn zhège zuò shénme

Yes, that is my younger brother. Why do you ask about that?

Lin

他在哪里？有没有起床？

tā zài nǎlǐ yǒu méiyǒu qǐchuáng

Where is he? Did he get up?

他没起床，还在那里睡觉。

tā méi qǐchuáng hái zài nàlǐ shuìjiào

He didn't get up, he is still sleeping over there.

Lin

你对他说什么了？

nǐ duì tā shuō shénme le

What did you say to him?

我问他要不要看医生，他说要睡觉。

wǒ wèn tā yào búyào kàn yīshēng tā shuō yào shuìjiào

I asked him if he wanted to see a doctor, and he said he wants to sleep.

Grammar

我问他要不要看医生，他说要睡觉。I asked him if he wanted to see a doctor, and he said he wants to sleep.

Subject +要+ Verb

Modal Verb '要'. The auxiliary verb '要' (yào) is used before a verb to articulate a clear intention, desire, or future plan. It conveys a stronger sense of purpose than '想', making it a vital tool for expressing authoritative decisions and commitments in both social and professional contexts.

他今天要和小朋友玩。

Tā jīntiān yào hé xiǎopéngyǒu wán.

He wants to play with children today.

Which word means “where”?

Write the new characters

0 of 14 written

时 from 时候 · (a point in) time

Trace the strokes in order

Practice

8 questions · about 4 minutes

Pick the meaningListenFill the gapMatchWord order

Finish

Finish the practice to complete this lesson.

Ongoing Actions and Future Plans

1Driving to the Restaurant

9 new wordsTest yourselfFlashcards

Grammar

2Studying Medicine

5 new wordsTest yourselfFlashcards

Grammar

3Talking About Little Brother

11 new wordsTest yourselfFlashcards

Grammar

Write the new characters

Practice

Finish

Driving to the Restaurant

9 new words

Studying Medicine

5 new words

Talking About Little Brother

11 new words