When do I use 着 to indicate action in progress?

Question

It seems like for some verbs (正)在 is used to indicate action in progress, but I have also encountered 着 for some, like 穿着. When should it be used, is there a rule to follow?

Answer 1

This is used for both actions in progress and things that are happening in present tense, such as "she is wearing a dress".

I sometimes equate this to the -ing suffix.

Examples:

他穿着西装弹吉他

He (She) is wearing a suit and playing guitar

你帮我看着他

Help me look out for him (her) (at this moment)

你看他扛着那么大的一个东西

See him carrying such a big thing

However, this is not used as -ing with actions as you would expect:

This is wrong:

他在游泳着

The 着 here should be applied to the 游 i.e.

他在游着

Wrong:

他在弹吉他着

Right:

他在弹着吉他

Answer 2

着 when used between two verbs signifies that the first action accompanies the second (main) action.

我喜欢躺着听音乐。 I like to listen to music lying down

他坐着看电视。 He sits watching television