The aspect particle “着” (2)
“着” (zhe) marks a continuing action or state. When the sentence has an object, the object follows 着.
Basic structure
Verb + 着 + object
Meaning:
to be … -ing
to be in the state of …
Examples
现在路上车多，还下着雪，我开慢一点儿
现在xiànzàinow
路上车多lùshang chē duōthere are many cars on the road
下着雪xiàzhe xuěit is snowing
我开慢一点儿wǒ kāi màn yìdiǎnrI'll drive a bit slower
Here 雪 is the object, so it comes after 着.
她穿着白色的裤子
她tāshe
穿着chuānzheis wearing
白色的裤子báisè de kùziwhite trousers
Here 着 shows the clothes are on her now.
陈天中没拿着咖啡
陈天中Chén TiānzhōngChen Tianzhong
没méinot
拿着názhebe holding
咖啡kāfēicoffee
The question forms
There are three question forms with 着.
Form 1: add 吗？at the end.
Sentence + 吗？
教室的门开着吗？
Form 2: add 没有？at the end.
Sentence + 没有？
白家月坐着没有？
Form 3: “verb + 没 + verb + 着”.
Verb + 没 + verb + 着 + object？
她拿没拿着手机？
拿 + 没 + 拿 + 着 + 手机
hold + not + hold + 着 + phone
Quick rule
Verb + 着 + object
The object follows 着.
下着雪 — it is snowing
穿着白色的裤子 — is wearing white trousers
拿着咖啡 — is holding a coffee
Question: ……着……吗？
or ……着……没有？
or verb + 没 + verb + 着……？