In the previous lesson, we learn that 有 (yǒu) can be used to express the existence of someone or something in a particular place. You can also use 著 [着] (zhe) to express it. So, what is the difference between them?
著 [着] (zhe) is for ‘stative’ verbs
In terms of expressing existence, 著 [着] (zhe) is generally paired with stative verbs rather than dynamic verbs. The examples of the static condition verbs including placed, lived, hanged, parked, and so on.
Structure:
Location + Verb + 著 [着] + Object
| Location | Verb | 著 [着] | Object |
| 衣櫃裡 | 掛 | 著 | 一些衣服。 |
| 衣柜里 | 挂 | 着 | 一些衣服。 |
| Yī guì lǐ | guà | zhe | yī xiē yī fú. |
| in the wardrobe | hanging | there are | some clothes |
| There are some clothes hanging in the wardrobe. | |||
| Location | Verb | 著 [着] | Object |
| 沙發上 | 睡 | 著 | 一個小女孩。 |
| 沙发上 | 睡 | 着 | 一个小女孩。 |
| Shā fā shàng | shuì | zhe | yī gè xiǎo nǚ hái. |
| on the sofa | sleeping | there is | a little girl |
| There is a little girl sleeping on the sofa. | |||
NEGATIVE SENTENCE
Just like 有 (yǒu), we use 沒 [没] (méi) – instead of 不 (bù) – as the negative determiners to express ‘there is no’ or ‘there are no’.
Structure: Location + 沒 [没] + Verb + 著 [着] + Object
| Location | 沒 [没] | Verb | 著 [着] | Object |
| 衣櫃裡 | 沒 | 掛 | 著 | 衣服。 |
| 衣柜里 | 没 | 挂 | 着 | 衣服。 |
| Yī guì lǐ | méi | guà | zhe | yī fú. |
| in the wardrobe | no | hanging | there are | clothes |
| There are no clothes hanging in the wardrobe. | ||||
| Location | 沒 [没] | Verb | 著 [着] | Object |
| 沙發上 | 沒 | 睡 | 著 | 小女孩。 |
| 沙发上 | 没 | 睡 | 着 | 小女孩。 |
| Shā fā shàng | méi | shuì | zhe | xiǎo nǚ hái. |
| on the sofa | no | sleeping | there is | little girl |
| There is no little girl sleeping on the sofa. | ||||
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