How can I tell if 〜ている means action or result?

It depends on the verb. Actions like “eat, read, write” usually describe ongoing action. Verbs like “marry, know, live” describe states.

What’s the polite form of V-ている?

Use V-ています (present), V-ていません (negative), or V-ていました (past polite).

Can 〜ている mean daily routine?

Yes! It can also describe habits or occupations: - 私わたしは毎朝まいあさコーヒーを飲のんでいます。 = I drink coffee every morning. - 母ははは病院びょういんで働はたらいています。 = My mom works at a hospital.

How to Use te iru（〜ている） in Japanese | Ongoing Action vs Ongoing Result Explained

Q: What’s the difference between 〜ている, 〜てある, and 〜ておく?

〜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: 窓まどが開あけてある → 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: ご飯はんを炊たいておいた → I cooked the rice (for later use or convenience).

contents

Introduction
What Is V-ている in Japanese?
Use #1: Ongoing Action（動作の継続）
- How to Make It
- Negative and Past Forms
Use #2: Ongoing Result（結果の継続）
- Common Verbs That Show Ongoing Result
Practice Time!
- Are these ongoing actions or ongoing results?
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion
- Want to improve your Japanese with real conversations?

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
テレビを見みています。	I am watching TV.
英語えいごを教おしえています。	I am teaching English.
歌うたを歌っています。	I am singing a song.
本ほんを読よんでいます。	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
見みる	見て	見ています
読よむ	読んで	読んでいます
歌うたう	歌って	歌っています

Negative and Past Forms

Form	Example
Negative	私わたしは中国語ちゅうごくごを勉強べんきょうしていません。 I am not studying Chinese.
Past	大学生だいがくせいのとき、アルバイトをしていました。 When I was a college student, I was working part-time.
Habitual	私わたしは高校こうこうで英語えいごを教おしえています。 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
結婚けっこんしています。	(Someone) is married.
太ふとっています。	(Someone) is overweight.
スマホを持もっていません。	(Someone) doesn’t have a smartphone.
その歌うたを知しっています。	(Someone) knows that song.
イギリスに住すんでいます。	(Someone) lives in the UK.

💡 The action (like “to marry”) is complete, but the state continues (“is married”).

e.g. わたしの父ちちはすこし太ふとっています。/ 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
結婚けっこんする	結婚している	to be married
知しる	知っている	to know
太ふとる	太っている	to be overweight
やせる	やせている	to be thin
持もつ	持っている	to have
住すむ	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?

お酒さけを飲のんでいます。 → (drinking now = action)
スマホを持もっています。 → (possessing = result)
日本語にほんごを勉強べんきょうしています。 → (studying = action)
フィリピンに住すんでいます。 → (living = result)
昨日きのうの夜よる、テレビを見みていました。 → (past action)

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

Q How 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.

Q What’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).

Q Can 〜ている mean daily routine?: A
Yes! It can also describe habits or occupations:
– 私わたしは毎朝まいあさコーヒーを飲のんでいます。 = I drink coffee every morning.
– 母ははは病院びょういんで働はたらいています。 = My mom works at a hospital.

Q What’s the difference between 〜ている, 〜てある, and 〜ておく?

〜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: 窓まどが開あけてある → 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: ご飯はんを炊たいておいた → 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.

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