tā xiànzài zài gōngsī gōngzuò ne.

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Questions & Answers about tā xiànzài zài gōngsī gōngzuò ne.

What does the particle 呢 do here? Is this a question?
  • In this sentence, 呢 (ne) is not a question marker. It’s a sentence-final particle that marks an ongoing/current situation and softens the tone, often implying “right now/at the moment” or a continuing state.
  • Contrast:
    • 他现在在公司工作。 neutral fact
    • 他现在在公司工作呢。 suggests it’s in progress right now and invites follow-up
Is 在 marking “be doing” here, or just “at/in”?
  • Here precedes 公司, so it’s the preposition “at/in”: 在公司 (“at the company”).
  • When marks the progressive, it sits right before the verb: 他在工作呢 / 他在吃饭呢. In this sentence, the “ongoing” feel mainly comes from 现在
    • , not from .
Can I say this with 正在 or other alternatives?
  • Yes:
    • 他现在正在公司工作。 (explicit progressive)
    • 他现在在公司上班。 (emphasizes “on duty/at work”)
    • You can even combine for emphasis: 他现在正在公司工作呢。 (a bit heavy but heard in speech)
What changes if I drop 呢?
  • 他现在在公司工作 is a neutral statement. Context decides whether it means “He works at that company (these days)” or “He’s at the company working now.” With , the “right now, ongoing” reading is stronger and the tone is softer.
Does 现在 mean “right now” or “these days”?
  • Both, depending on context:
    • With 呢/正在, 现在 usually means “right now.”
    • Without progressive marking, it often means “currently/these days.” For example, 他现在在这家公司工作了 means “He now works at this company” (change of status), not necessarily “at this very moment.”
What’s the word order for time and place?
  • Typical order: Subject + time + place + verb (+ object).
  • Here: 他 + 现在 + 在公司 + 工作 + 呢.
  • You can topicalize time: 现在他在公司工作呢。
  • Avoid putting time after place: 他在公司现在工作呢 sounds odd.
Do I need 里 after 公司? Difference between 在公司 and 在公司里?
  • 在公司工作 can mean “work for the company” or “work at the company building,” depending on context.
  • 在公司里工作 highlights being physically inside the premises. It’s optional here; use it if you want to stress the location inside the building.
Why not say 工作在公司?
  • The natural pattern is to front the place with : 在公司工作.
  • Some verbs accept “Verb + 在 + place” (e.g., 住在北京, 坐在椅子上). 工作 usually doesn’t in everyday speech. Phrases like 工作在一线 appear in formal/slogan style; avoid 工作在公司 in conversation.
What’s the difference between 工作 and 上班 here?
  • 工作 (gōngzuò) as a verb = to work; neutral; can mean the activity or long-term employment.
  • 上班 (shàngbān) = to be on duty/at work (during work hours); opposite 下班.
  • Compare:
    • 他在公司工作。 He works for that company.
    • 他在公司上班。 He is an employee there / he goes in to work; in the present context it often implies he’s on duty.
Can I say 他现在在公司工作着?
  • That’s uncommon/unnatural. marks a continuous state rather than an ongoing activity like working. Use 在/正在/呢 instead: 他现在在公司工作呢 / 他现在正在公司工作.
Could I use 了 instead of 呢?
  • No. 他现在在公司工作了 uses to show a change of state: he now works at that company (he didn’t before). It does not mean “He is working right now.” For “right now,” use 在/正在/呢.
How do I negate this? Do I use 不 or 没?
  • Long-term/habitual (not employed there now): 他现在不在公司工作。
  • Right now/ongoing action (he isn’t working there at the moment): 他现在没在公司工作。
  • Location only: 他现在不在公司。
  • Rule of thumb: for general/habitual; 没(有) to deny occurrence/ongoing action or past events.
Why not add 是, like 他现在是在公司工作呢?
  • is a copula; you don’t place it before a verb phrase to make a present progressive.
  • The cleft 是…的 mainly emphasizes details of a past event. Using here either sounds contrastive/marked or awkward with . Prefer 他现在在公司工作呢.
Do I need an article like “a/the” before 公司?
  • Chinese has no articles. 在公司工作 can mean “at a company” or “at the company,” decided by context.
  • To be explicit:
    • Indefinite: 在一个公司工作.
    • Specific: 在这家公司工作 / 在那家公司工作 (the classifier is standard for companies).
Pronunciation and tones check?
  • 他 tā (1st)
  • 现在 xiànzài (4th, 4th)
  • 在 zài (4th)
  • 公司 gōngsī (1st, 1st)
  • 工作 gōngzuò (1st, 4th)
  • 呢 ne (neutral)
  • Full reading: Tā xiànzài zài gōngsī gōngzuò ne.