我也住在這裡 or 我也住這裡

Question

I'm quite confused with using 在 in a sentence. I learned that it usually indicates a place or a location. I'm trying to say "I also live here". I thought that since I'm referring to a place, maybe I will need to use 在. But when I remove it, the sentence sounds correct as well. Which sentence would be more appropriate?

Answer 1

Grammatically 在 is required.

Unlike in English 'here' is an adverb which can follow verb directly, in Chinese 这里 is a pronoun, in order to construct a V-O phrase, there must be a preposition in between.

In colloquial language, people often omit 在, so it's also understood and appropriate, just less formal.

Answer 2

Actually both sentences means the same, but when you try to breakdown each word meaning, it should be like:

• 我 - 也 - 住 - 在 - 這裡: I - also - live - in - here.
• 我 - 也 - 住 - 這裡: I - also - live - here.

The last sentence lack of preposition but it still able to understood and looks like less formal.

Btw, the sentence should be constructed like S O V, and it should be like: 我也在這裡住, isn't it? But when the order like this, I think you can't omit 在.

Answer 3

When you study and speak Chinese, remember one thing: There is no such thing as grammar in Chinese. If you want to speak Chinese fluently, forget all about grammar.

So in this problem, "我也住在这里"="我也住这里". They are identical! Which one you like, you use which one. No Chinese will blame you for using one but not another. (I am a Chinese, believe me)