Action in progress: “is doing”
For verbs that describe an activity that takes time, ている is the English “-ing”.
Lasting state: “has done, and still is”
Some verbs describe an instant change: getting married, arriving, getting to know. With ている they describe the state that follows. English often uses an adjective or a different verb here.
| ている form | Meaning | Dictionary verb means |
|---|---|---|
| kekkon shite imasu | is married | get married |
| sunde imasu | lives (in a place) | settle, come to live |
| shitte imasu | knows | come to know |
| motte imasu | has, owns; is holding | take hold of |
| kite imasu | is here (has come) | come |
| futotte imasu | is fat | get fat |
| kite imasu | is wearing | put on (clothes) |
知っています, but 知りません
知る means “come to know”, so “I know” is 知っています. The negative is the odd one out: “I don’t know” is 知りません, not 知っていません, because you never came to know it.
Habits, jobs and repeated actions
ている also describes something you do regularly over a period, including your work.
まだ〜ていません: not yet
For “haven’t done yet”, Japanese uses the negative ている with まだ: the state of having done it does not exist yet. 食べませんでした would mean “I didn’t eat (at that time)”, a finished fact.
ていく and てくる: changes over time
てくる describes a change that has been happening up to now; ていく a change that will continue from now. They also mean physically going or coming after doing something.
ていた: was doing, used to
The past of ている describes what was going on at a past moment, or a past state that no longer holds.
もう〜ている and まだ〜ていない
ている pairs with もう (already) and まだ (still, not yet) to describe states at the present moment.
| Sentence | Meaning | Pattern |
|---|---|---|
| mō okite imasu | he’s already up | もう + ている |
| mada nete imasu | she’s still asleep | まだ + ている |
| mada kite imasen | hasn’t come yet | まだ + ていない |
| mō shitte imasu | I already know | もう + ている |
Cheat sheet: four meanings of ている
Which meaning applies depends on the verb.
| Example | Meaning | Type |
|---|---|---|
| tabete iru | is eating | action in progress |
| kekkon shite iru | is married | resulting state |
| maiasa hashitte iru | runs every morning | habit |
| ginkō de hataraite iru | works at a bank | occupation |
Check yourself: what does it mean?
Decide which meaning of ている applies, then open the answer.
- Meaning?雨が降っている。ame ga futte iru
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In progress: it is raining. - Meaning?窓が開いている。mado ga aite iru
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State: the window is open. - Meaning?大阪に住んでいる。Ōsaka ni sunde iru
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State: lives in Osaka. - Meaning?彼を知っている。kare o shitte iru
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State: I know him. - Meaning?眼鏡をかけている。megane o kakete iru
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State: wears glasses.
Casual speech: てる
In conversation the い of いる drops: 食べている → 食べてる, 知っている → 知ってる. The polite form keeps it: 食べています.