Structure
Verb[ている]+ た
Details
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Standard
使用域
一般
About ていた
- シャワーが壊れていたから2日間もシャワーを浴びれなかった。Because the shower was broken, I was not able to take a shower for 2 days. (Was in the state of being broken)
- 昨日は夜遅くまでカラオケで歌っていたので、のどが痛いです。I was singing until late last night at karaoke, so my throat hurts. (Was doing karaoke)
- 昔はパーマをかけていました。In the past, I used to have my hair permed. (Was getting perms)
- 窓が割れていました。The window was smashed. (Was in the state of being smashed)
- お父さんがその椅子に座っていたから、こっちに座りな。Dad was sitting there, so sit here please.
The same kind of sentence could be used when the speaker has walked away from where their dad was sitting, and doesn't actually know if he is still sitting there or not.
Synonyms
Examples
勉強をしていたけど、今は休んでいる。
I was studying but am taking a break right now.
音楽を聴いていたから、電話が聞こえなかった。
Because I was listening to music I couldn't hear the phone.
昨日1時ごろに寝ていた。
Yesterday around one o'clock I was sleeping.
4時間も椅子に座っていたから、お尻が痛い。
I was sitting for as much as four hours, so my butt hurts.
お母さんが帰って来た時私はご飯を作っていた。
When my mom came home I was making food.
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What is Vて+た construction?
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ていた – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (4 in total)
mrnoone
About 3 years ago
Hey
Yes! This is the correct way of using the community forums! Feel free to ask as many questions as you want
Kurei
About 3 years ago
As always clear and complete. Thank you very much!
As you inferred the lack of an example that used て+いました was one of the reasons why I thought it may not exist. The other was that I didn’t get any warning about it being too polite.
Then I’ll be less worried the next time I override an answer marked wrong due to a formality mismatch.
I think I got too spoiled by all the “too polite” “more polite” and expected it always.
Also, sorry for making you write all the explanation of the levels of politeness.P.S. I’ll be using these grammar points p...
Howl_UK
About 2 years ago
On a slightly related note. Can ている also mean ‘will be doing’ (in the future) or can it only mean ‘am doing’ or ‘resultant change has happened and continues to remain in that state’?
i.e. 明日本を読んだりケッキを食べたりしている
Tomorrow I will be doing things like reading a book and eating cake.
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