Usage of negation 没 with 在 and 着 particle? Hello I start learning Chinese since not long, after I fell in love with the Expanse book series. (Chinese explorers are one of the first to colonise Mars planet).
I studied that 在 and 着 are particles for describing the action is in progress, happening continuously.
For example:

我在开车 &quot;I'm driving&quot;
我坐着吃饭 &quot;I eat sitting&quot; (maybe I eat while sitting?)

I also studied that the negation 没 makes some particles disappear, for example 了 and 着, but not 在.
我吃了饭 -&gt; 我没吃饭
我吃着饭 -&gt; 我没吃饭 (same as above!)
我在吃饭 -&gt; 我没在吃饭
My question: if 在 and 着 are for action in progress, why the negation 没 must remove 着 and not 在？
And how do native speakers know the difference in 我没吃饭, how do you know without negation if it is 我吃了饭 or 我吃着饭?
Thank you very much!
The negation for 我吃着饭 should be 我没在吃饭 or 我不在吃饭, not 我没吃饭. You should change 着 to 在 when you turn the sentence to a negative one.
With this clarified, I think your confusion can be removed. Otherwise, let me know.