Video
Let’s watch this short video for a quick overview.
Source: gokigen japanese official YouTube Channel
Introduction
In English, we often use the “-ing” form to describe ongoing actions like “I am eating” or “She is sleeping.” In Japanese, we use V-ている for the same purpose — but did you know it has two different meanings?
In this article, you’ll learn:
- How to use V-ている to describe actions in progress
- How to use V-ている to describe the result of a completed action
- The difference between “doing” and “being in a state”
- Real-life examples and practice
What Is V-ている in Japanese?
The structure V-ている combines:
- A verb in its て-form
- The verb いる (to exist)
It can mean:
- An action is happening now (ongoing action)
- A result or state is continuing (ongoing result)
Let’s look at both uses!
Use #1: Ongoing Action（動作の継続）
This is like the English present progressive:
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| テレビを見ています。 | I am watching TV. |
| 英語を教えています。 | I am teaching English. |
| 歌を歌っています。 | I am singing a song. |
| 本を読んでいます。 | I am reading a book. |
In Japanese, the て-form of a verb followed by いる is used to express an ongoing action, similar to the present progressive tense (e.g. -ing) in English. This structure is used to describe actions that are happening right now or over a period of time.
How to Make It
Step 1: Put the verb into て-form
Step 2: Add いる / います
| Verb | て-form | Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| 見る | 見て | 見ています |
| 読む | 読んで | 読んでいます |
| 歌う | 歌って | 歌っています |
Negative and Past Forms
| Form | Example |
|---|---|
| Negative | 私は中国語を勉強していません。 I am not studying Chinese. |
| Past | 大学生のとき、アルバイトをしていました。 When I was a college student, I was working part-time. |
| Habitual | 私は高校で英語を教えています。 I teach English at a high school. |
Use #2: Ongoing Result（結果の継続）
This usage describes a state that resulted from a past action and still continues.
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| 結婚しています。 | (Someone) is married. |
| 太っています。 | (Someone) is overweight. |
| スマホを持っていません。 | (Someone) doesn’t have a smartphone. |
| その歌を知っています。 | (Someone) knows that song. |
| イギリスに住んでいます。 | (Someone) lives in the UK. |
💡 The action (like “to marry”) is complete, but the state continues (“is married”).
e.g. わたしの父はすこし太っています。/ My father is a little overweight.
This means that he is already overweight, not that he is gaining weight right now. As a result of the past action (gaining weight), he is now overweight.
Common Verbs That Show Ongoing Result
| Verb | V-ている | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 結婚する | 結婚している | to be married |
| 知る | 知っている | to know |
| 太る | 太っている | to be overweight |
| やせる | やせている | to be thin |
| 持つ | 持っている | to have |
| 住む | 住んでいる | to live (somewhere) |
These verbs don’t mean “doing” — they describe the resulting condition.
Practice Time!
Are these ongoing actions or ongoing results?
- お酒を飲んでいます。 → (drinking now = action)
- スマホを持っています。 → (possessing = result)
- 日本語を勉強しています。 → (studying = action)
- フィリピンに住んでいます。 → (living = result)
- 昨日の夜、テレビを見ていました。 → (past action)
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
- QHow can I tell if 〜ている means action or result?
- A
It depends on the verb. Actions like “eat, read, write” usually describe ongoing action. Verbs like “marry, know, live” describe states.
- QWhat’s the polite form of V-ている?
- A
Use V-ています (present), V-ていません (negative), or V-ていました (past polite).
- QCan 〜ている mean daily routine?
- A
Yes! It can also describe habits or occupations:
– 私は毎朝コーヒーを飲んでいます。 = I drink coffee every morning.
– 母は病院で働いています。 = My mom works at a hospital.
- QWhat’s the difference between 〜ている, 〜てある, and 〜ておく?
- A
〜ている shows either:
- an ongoing action (e.g., I am reading a book), or
- a state that is the result of an action (e.g., the window is open).
〜てある focuses on the current state of something that was intentionally done by someone.
Example: 窓が開けてある → The window is open (and someone did it on purpose).〜ておく shows that the action was done in preparation for something or to get it out of the way.
Example: ご飯を炊いておいた → I cooked the rice (for later use or convenience).
Conclusion
Now you know the two faces of V-ている in Japanese!
✅ Use it to describe actions in progress
✅ Use it to describe ongoing states from past actions
✅ Recognize which verbs indicate which meaning
✅ Practice to build fluency in daily conversation
🎯 Try writing 3 sentences using each type — one action, one state, and one daily habit.
Want to improve your Japanese with real conversations?
Our native Japanese instructors at gokigen japanese can help you perfect your pronunciation and learn real-life usage.
Whether you’re completely new to Japanese or looking to refine your skills, book a one-on-one session.
