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@ -81,8 +81,16 @@ In Chinese, the equivalent is putting 正zhèng before 在zài when using the pr
正在 + verb (+ object) + 呢 正在 + verb (+ object) + 呢
``` ```
The inclusion of 正 pinpoints an ongoing action to a specific point in time, which may be explicitly expressed by a time word (as in the following example (1)), a time clause (as in (2)), or implicitly inferred (as in (3)): The inclusion of 正 pinpoints an ongoing action to a specific point in time. This roughly translates a bit like "right" in English. The time may be explicitly expressed by a time word (as in the following example (1)), a time clause (as in (2)), or implicitly inferred (as in (3)):
1. 他们现在正在上课呢。 1. 他们现在**正**在上课呢。
They are in class right now. They are in class **right** now.
2. 你昨天来找他的时候，他*正*在洗澡呢。 2. 你昨天来找他的时候，他**正**在洗澡呢。
When you came to look for him yesterday, he was *right* in the middle of taking a shower. When you came to look for him yesterday, he was **right** in the middle of taking a shower.
3. 他们**正**在跳舞呢。
(At this very moment) They are **right** in the midst of dancing.
In (2) above, the second clause emphasises that the first clause was unfortunately timed. If they were unrelated, we wouldn't use 正. For example:
1. 昨天晚上王太太做饭的时候，李先生在洗衣服。
Yesterday whilst Mrs. Wang was cooking, Mr. Li was doing his laundry.
2. 昨天晚上你做饭的时候，我正在洗衣服呢。
Yesterday while you were cooking, I was right in the middle of doing my laundry.
In (1) above, the actions are presented as parallel but unrelated. In (2), it's different - it's more of a "yesterday while you cooked, I was busy with my laundry, so don't blame me for not helping out!".