Structure
Verb[て]+ いる
Verb[て]+ る(*)
(*) The い can be omitted in casual language.
Details
Part of Speech
Conjunctive Particle
Word Type
Verb
Register
Standard
品詞
接続助詞
単語の種類
動詞
使用域
一般
About ている②
As mentioned in our first ている lesson, this construction is used to convey that someone or something is existing in a constant state of 'doing' the verb that comes before て. Here we will take a closer look at several of the verbs that will be used with ている, to express 'existing in a state of (A) having been done'.
- クラスは始まっている。The class has already started. (Existing in the state of having started)
- お母さんは今買い物に行っています。My mom went out to go shopping. (Existing in the state of having gone)
- あの犬は死んでいるだろう、悲しいね 。That dog over there is probably dead… How upsetting. (Existing in the state of having died)
- 先生がめちゃ怒っている。My teacher is very angry. (Existing in the state of having gotten angry)
Fun Fact
One of the easiest ways that you can tell whether a verb will use the ている form, or the past form, is to think about whether it can happen twice. Something cannot 'start' twice, so it will use ている. Something cannot die twice, so it will use ている, etc. This does not work with every verb, but will help with over 90% of the verbs that require this form.- ピアノが落ちている。The piano has fallen. (Existing in the state of having fallen)
Synonyms
Examples
バスは今大阪に来ています。
The bus is in Osaka now. (The bus has come to Osaka and is there now)
Movement words like いく、帰る、and くる can also be interpreted as progressive actions, so depending on the context, it can also mean 'The bus is going to Osaka now.' If you want to convey progressive action in a clear way, you can use 向かう (バスは今大阪に向かっている).
パーティーは始まっている。
The party has begun. (The party has begun and is still going on)
電車は東京に行っています。
The train is in Tokyo. (The train has gone to Tokyo and is there)
Like a previous example, this sentence can be interpreted as 'The train is going to Tokyo'.
ななさんのバナナは腐っています。
Nana's banana is rotten. (Nana's banana went bad and is rotten)
腐る by itself means 'to go bad' or 'to spoil'. 痛む can also be used to say 'to go bad,' but it is not a momentary verb.
喫茶店はもう閉まっています。
The coffee shop is already closed. (The coffee shop has been closed and remains closed)
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Online
How to use ている
Maggie Sensei
Enduring States
Tae Kim
ている uses explained
BriefJapanese
Offline
Tae Kim's Japanese Grammar Guide
Page 117
みんなの日本語 I
Page 93 [CH 14]
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ている② – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (18 in total)
SeanFM
About 1 month ago
I’ve got the negative form of this (していない) wrong a few times now.
My first guess just now was してるない for this sentence: サスケさんは結婚していないでしょう?
How does the conjugation work here? Is it just that いない is the negative form of いる or something?
IcyIceBear
About 1 month ago
Yep いる becomes いない. The いる at the end will conjugate like an ichidan/る verb
So like
食べる 食べない
食べます 食べません食べている 食べていない
食べています 食べていませんdharlequin
About 18 days ago
Thanks for this!
It feels like it should be covered in the grammar topic itself, and not just hidden in the discussions.
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