MANDARIN SENTENCE PATTERN

Time and place before the action

Say when and where an action takes place.

Subject + time + 在 + place + action

A time expression can appear before or after the subject, but normally before the verb. An 在 phrase can give the location of an action.

在 can also serve as the main verb meaning to be at a location, without another action after it.

Examples

我今天在家学习。

Wǒ jīntiān zài jiā xuéxí.

I am studying at home today.

明天我们去学校。

Míngtiān wǒmen qù xuéxiào.

Tomorrow we are going to school.

老师在学校。

Lǎoshī zài xuéxiào.

The teacher is at school.

For a destination use 去学校. 在学校 describes being or doing something at school.