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 | 昨日の午後 八時ごろ、私は本を読んでいました。 Around 8 p.m. yesterday, I was reading a book. |
| Past Negative | その時、私はテレビを見ていませんでした。ゲームをしていました。 At that time, I wasn’t watching TV. I was playing a game. |
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”).
Example:
私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.
Tip: Habitual / repeated action
This grammar also has the meaning of “habitual / repeated action.”
Example:
私は日本の高校で数学を教えています。
I teach mathematics at a Japanese high school.
兄は毎朝ジムで運動しています。
My brother works out at the gym every morning.
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. For action verbs like “たべる = eat,” “よむ = read,” or “かく = write,” ～ている usually shows an ongoing action (something happening now). However, when used with words like “まいにち = every day” or “まいしゅう = every week,” it often expresses a habitual action (something done regularly). Verbs like “けっこんする = marry,” “しる = know,” or “すむ = live” describe states or results instead.
- QWhat’s the polite form of V-ている?
- A
Use the following polite forms depending on tense and polarity:
- V-ています → present affirmative
- V-ていません → present negative
- V-ていました → past affirmative
- V-ていませんでした → past negative
- 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.
