<p>The particle 着 indicates <a href="https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Aspect_particle_%22zhe%22" rel="nofollow noreferrer">the continuous aspect</a>, and if we want to use this particle, the appropriate structure is:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Place + Verb + 着 + [Noun Phrase]<br>
  <sub><a href="https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Alternative_existential_sentences#Pattern_with_.E7.9D.80" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Alternative existential sentences; Pattern with 着</a>, Chinese Grammar Wiki</sub></p>
</blockquote>

<p>So the "place" should come before the verb (<a href="https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Indicating_location_with_%22zai%22_before_verbs" rel="nofollow noreferrer">as usual</a>), i.e.:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>很多同学<strong>在草地上</strong>坐着。</p>
</blockquote>

<p>It's continuous, so it is happening and will continue to happen.  The context will give the time period in which it occurs.  It means what you said: "Many students are sitting on the grass." (Although, I feel 同学 is better translated to "classmates" than "students", but this depends on context.)</p>

<p>We generally think of 坐 as intransitive, i.e., it doesn't take an object (i.e., "I sit" 我坐着)  For comparison, 吃 can be transitive (e.g., "I eat food" 我吃着饭).  Although we can say:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>很多同学坐着地铁。 (Many classmates are taking the subway.)</p>
</blockquote>

<p>but here 坐着 means "take", and 地铁 is the object of the sentence.</p>

<p>The official version:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>很多同学坐在草地上。</p>
</blockquote>

<p>uses a different grammar structure with the "special verb" 坐:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Subj. + [Special Verb] + 在 + Location<br>
  <sub><a href="https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Special_cases_of_%22zai%22_following_verbs" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Special cases of "zai" following verbs</a>, Chinese Grammar Wiki</sub></p>
</blockquote>

<p>And I believe your translation is correct: "Many students sit on the grass."</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-01T09:47:55.190Z
Thanks Becky. If I use Verb + 着 + Place to describe two ongoing actions, is it correct? For example: 他坐着在沙发上看报纸。(He is sitting on sofa and reading newspaper)
Jenny
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-01T10:09:05.500Z
Hmm, I’m not sure (maybe that’s another question), but I’d instinctively put the 着 after the 看, since 坐在沙发上 describes the location.
Becky 李蓓
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-01T12:37:11.263Z
@Jenny It should be 他坐在沙发上看报纸 or 他在沙发上坐着看报纸.
dan
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-02T01:36:54.530Z
@dan thank you, but why cannot write "他坐着在沙发上看报纸"?
Jenny
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-02T22:14:25.103Z
@Jenny 'Why' is unanswerable in language.  :(
dan
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-01T07:43:55.853Z
2020-06-01T07:43:55.853Z
Becky 李蓓
<pre><code>很多同学坐着在草地上 =&gt; My textbook gives me the correct sentence: 很多同学坐在草地上. 
</code></pre>

<p>But I think the original one is not wrong. </p>

<p>(1) 很多同学坐着在草地上. Many students are sitting on the grass.</p>

<p>(2) 很多同学坐在草地上. Many students sit on the grass. </p>

<p><strong>Is what I think correct?</strong> Does anyone have any better explanation? </p>

<grammar><meaning><meaning-in-context>
What's wrong with 很多同学坐着在草地上?
# What's wrong with 很多同学坐着在草地上?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-06-01)

很多同学坐着在草地上 => My textbook gives me the correct sentence: 很多同学坐在草地上. 

But I think the original one is not wrong. 
(1) 很多同学坐着在草地上. Many students are sitting on the grass.
(2) 很多同学坐在草地上. Many students sit on the grass. 
Is what I think correct? Does anyone have any better explanation?

**Tags:** grammar, meaning, meaning-in-context


---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2020-06-01. Score: 4

The particle 着 indicates [the continuous aspect](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Aspect_particle_%22zhe%22), and if we want to use this particle, the appropriate structure is:

> Place + Verb + 着 + [Noun Phrase]  
> [Alternative existential sentences; Pattern with 着](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Alternative_existential_sentences#Pattern_with_.E7.9D.80), Chinese Grammar Wiki

So the "place" should come before the verb ([as usual](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Indicating_location_with_%22zai%22_before_verbs)), i.e.:

> 很多同学**在草地上**坐着。

It's continuous, so it is happening and will continue to happen. The context will give the time period in which it occurs. It means what you said: "Many students are sitting on the grass." (Although, I feel 同学 is better translated to "classmates" than "students", but this depends on context.)

We generally think of 坐 as intransitive, i.e., it doesn't take an object (i.e., "I sit" 我坐着) For comparison, 吃 can be transitive (e.g., "I eat food" 我吃着饭). Although we can say:

> 很多同学坐着地铁。 (Many classmates are taking the subway.)

but here 坐着 means "take", and 地铁 is the object of the sentence.

The official version:

> 很多同学坐在草地上。

uses a different grammar structure with the "special verb" 坐:

> Subj. + [Special Verb] + 在 + Location  
> [Special cases of "zai" following verbs](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Special_cases_of_%22zai%22_following_verbs), Chinese Grammar Wiki

And I believe your translation is correct: "Many students sit on the grass."

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks Becky. If I use Verb + 着 + Place to describe two ongoing actions, is it correct? For example: 他坐着在沙发上看报纸。(He is sitting on sofa and reading newspaper)  
> **username_1**: Hmm, I’m not sure (maybe that’s another question), but I’d instinctively put the 着 after the 看, since 坐在沙发上 describes the location.  
> **username_2**: @username_0 It should be 他坐在沙发上看报纸 or 他在沙发上坐着看报纸.  
> **username_0**: @username_2 thank you, but why cannot write "他坐着在沙发上看报纸"?  
> **username_2**: @username_0 'Why' is unanswerable in language.  :(  

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