Grammar Info

N5 Lesson 10: 2/12

～ている ③Has/have done, Is ~ing (Repetition)

ている is often shortened to てる. This applies to all tenses, including てる, てて, てた, and even てます

Structure

Verb［て］+ いる
Verb［て］+ る
Verb［て］ + とる

Details

  • Part of Speech

    Conjunctive Particle

  • Word Type

    Verb

  • Register

    Standard

About ている③

The 3rd most common meaning (in no specific order) that ている is used for in Japanese, is the repetition of common activities. This is for things that are not 'continuing', but happen so often that they are considered to be continuous (like going to work, having a hobby, and similar things).

Due to いる being one of the verbs for 'existing' in Japanese, the ている form is closer to 'continuing to exist in a specific state', rather than (A)~ing in English. In this construction, it can be thought of as 'to be existing in the state of performing a regular activity'.

Caution

With this meaning of ている, to make it easier to understand, expressions of time are often used. This can be things like 毎日(まいにち), 毎晩(まいばん), 毎週(まいしゅう), and similar phrases.

Fun Fact

Regularly in novels, manga, and specifically some parts of Japan, とる may be used instead of ている with the same meaning.

  • 俺(おれ)、毎日(まいにち)勉強(べんきょう)しとる。
    I study every day.

Examples

--:--

    俺(おれ)は毎週(まいしゅう)金曜日(きんようび)の夜(よる)にスーパーに行(い)っているのだ。

    I go to the supermarket every Friday night. (I am going...)

    ふうたろうさんは毎日(まいにち)みくさんと一緒(いっしょ)に歴史(れきし)を勉強(べんきょう)している。

    Fuutarou-san studies history every day with Miku. (Fuutarou-san is studying...)

    魔王(まおう)さまはバーガークイーンで働(はたら)いています。

    The Demon Lord works at Burger Queen. (The Demon Lord is working...)

    この公園(こうえん)では毎週末(まいしゅうまつ)多(おお)くの人(ひと)が走(はし)っています。

    Many people run in this park every weekend. (Many people are running...)

    どうしてスティーブンはいつも黒(くろ)いタートルネックを着(き)ているのですか。

    Why does Steven always wear a black turtleneck? (is wearing)

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ている③ – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (11 in total)

  • semanticman

    semanticman

    I’m having trouble understanding the difference between when the “repetition of common activities” use of ている is different than the “habitual” sense of the basic non-past form.

    In this lesson, we see the example:

    毎晩まいばん９時じに寝ねている。

    I sleep at 9 every night. (This is a habit of the speaker)

    While in the lesson for non-past, we see:

    嫁よめは毎晩まいばん映画えいがを見みます。

    My wife watches movies every night.

    And many other examples seem equivalent.

    ている #3 lesson example:

    ばあさんは毎晩まいばん、薬くすりを飲のんどる。

    Grandmother takes medicin...

  • diddy_dante

    diddy_dante

    For:
    ひとみさんのお母さんは教師をしている。
    Hitomi’s mother is a teacher. (Hitomi’s mother is doing…)

    would just ひとみさんのお母さんは教師です not also be fine? Is the usage of している significantly more common?

    And also (I’m genuinely serious), regarding
    “をやっている can also be used in this case, but it sounds more casual (and might sound a bit rude)”
    Considering やる is also slang for to have sex (according to dictionary (JMdict)), how would you differentiate that Hitomi’s mother is a teacher vs Hitomi’s mother is doing a teacher?

  • semanticman

    semanticman

    This is still unanswered

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