Existential sentences (2)

In Chinese “着” (zhe) after a verb can form a sentence saying that someone or something is present in a place.

In such sentences: what comes before the verb names the place; what comes after it names an indefinite person or thing.

Basic structure

Place + verb + 着 + person / thing

Meaning: in a certain place, someone or something is there in a given state.

你(Nǐ)家(jiā)楼(lóu)下(xià)站(zhàn)着(zhe)一(yí)个(ge)人(rén)。

There's someone standing downstairs at your building.

你家楼下 + 站 + 着 + 一个人 downstairs at your place + stand + 着 + a person

你(nǐ)家(jiā)楼(lóu)下(xià)downstairs at your place

站(zhàn)着(zhe)is standing

一(yí)个(ge)人(rén)a person

The sentence names the place first, then the person who is there.

爸(Bà)爸(ba)手(shǒu)里(lǐ)拿(ná)着(zhe)一(yì)杯(bēi)咖(kā)啡(fēi)。

Dad has a cup of coffee in his hand.

爸爸手里 + 拿 + 着 + 一杯咖啡 in Dad's hand + hold + 着 + a cup of coffee

爸(bà)爸(ba)手(shǒu)里(lǐ)in Dad's hand

拿(ná)着(zhe)is holding

一(yì)杯(bēi)咖(kā)啡(fēi)a cup of coffee

Here 一杯咖啡 is the thing present in that place.

那(Nà)间(jiān)教(jiào)室(shì)里(lǐ)坐(zuò)着(zhe)不(bù)少(shǎo)学(xué)生(sheng)。

Quite a few students are sitting in that classroom.

那间教室里 + 坐 + 着 + 不少学生 in that classroom + sit + 着 + quite a few students

那(nà)间(jiān)教(jiào)室(shì)里(lǐ)in that classroom

坐(zuò)着(zhe)is sitting

不(bù)少(shǎo)学(xué)生(sheng)quite a few students

Place + verb + 着 + person / thing

Meaning: someone or something is present in a place, in a given state.

楼下站着一个人 — someone is standing downstairs 手里拿着一杯咖啡 — is holding a cup of coffee 教室里坐着不少学生 — quite a few students are sitting in the classroom