「ている (teiru)」 Japanese Grammar and Meanings | Ichiyo’s Japanese Online Lesson

ている (teiru) Japanese Grammar and Meanings

We will teach you the grammar and uses of the phrase「ている」. It has several uses, and we have seen many learners who do not know them. Please learn about「ている」on this page.

Structure of「ている」

「ている」is used in this structure.

Verb in て Form + いる

Examples:

Dictionary Form て Form + いるDictionary Formて Form + いる
Key Wordはし走っている寝ている
Romaji Readinghashiruhashitte irunerunete iru
English MeaningrunN/AsleepN/A

About the English meaning of「て Form + いる」:
We do not know the exact meaning without knowing the sentence. Therefore, I wrote “N/A.”

Dictionary Form て Form + いるDictionary Formて Form + いる
Key Wordふと太っているするしている
Romaji Readingfutorufutotte irusurushite iru
English Meaningget fatN/AdoN/A
Dictionary Form て Form + いるDictionary Formて Form + いる
Key Word乗っている勉強べんきょうする勉強している
Romaji Readingnorunotte irubenkyō surubenkyō shite iru
English MeaningrideN/AstudyN/A

The Polite Form of「ている」

「ています」is the polite form of「ている」.

Plain FormPolite FormPlain FormPolite Form
Key Wordはしっている走っていますている寝ています
Romaji Readinghashitte iruhashitte imasunete irunete imasu
Plain FormPolite FormPlain FormPolite Form
Key Wordふとっている太っていますしているしています
Romaji Readingfutotte irufutotte imasushite irushite imasu

Uses of「ている」

Usage 1: For What’s Happening Now (Progress)

「Verb in て Form + いる」indicates something that’s happening at the time you are speaking, like we use “-ing” in English.

あにいま勉強べんきょうしている。My older brother is studying now. (Plain Form)

The key word is「今(いま) 」which means “now” in this sentence.

いま電車でんしゃっている。I’m riding a train now. (Plain Form)

マラソン選手せんしゅはしっている。A marathon runner is running. (Plain Form)

Usage 2: For What’s Been Happening

「Verb in て Form + いる」indicates something that has been continuously happening up until the time you are talking. This is like “have been –ing” in English. 

三年さんねん以上いじょう日本語にほんご勉強べんきょうしている。I have been studying Japanese over three years. (Plain Form)

日本にほん六年間ろくねんかんんでいる。I have been living in Japan for six years. (Plain Form)

Usage 3: For Habits and Regular Occurrences

「Verb in て Form + いる」indicates habits or regular events. It describes what you are doing in general, not just at a particular time.

毎日まいにち電車でんしゃっている。I take the train every day. (Plain Form)

The key word in this sentence is「毎日まいにち」which means “every day.” The action「っている」indicates a regular thing.

Usage 4: For Result of State/Condition

「Verb in て Form + いる」indicates an ongoing situation that happened in the past.

窓 (window)

For example, someone opened the window at some point, and this window is still open. In this case, we use「ている」.

まどいている。The window is open. (Plain Form)

Dictionary Formて Form + いる
開いている
akuaite iru
openis open

あのひとふとっている。That person is fat. (Plain Form)

The state of “being fat” does not happen suddenly. The person gained weight in the past.「ている」is used to describe the state that results from the change and is ongoing. Therefore, we use「ふとっている」not「太る」.

この時計とけいこわれている。This watch/clock is broken.

中居なかいさんは結婚けっこんしている。Nakai-san is married.

れている。The tree is broken.

友達ともだち教科書きょうかしょしている。I lend my textbook to a friend.

Usage 5: Career, Experience, or Record

「ている」is used when indicating career, experience, or record.

わたしはこの試験しけん合格ごうかくしている。I have passed this exam.

「ている」is used when we explain experiences. Therefore, we use「合格している」.

Plain Form
(Dictionary Form)
Plain Formて Form + いる
Key Word合格ごうかくする合格した合格している
Romaji Readinggōkaku surugōkaku shitagōkaku shite iru
English Meaningpass an exampassed an examN/A

サッカーの試合しあい日本にほんはブラジルにけている。Japan lost to Brazil in a soccer match.

Plain Form
(Dictionary Form)
Plain Formて Form + いる
Key Wordける負けた負けている
Romaji Readingmakerumaketamakete iru
English MeaningloselostN/A

When we talk about records, we use「ている」. Therefore,「けている」is used in this sentence.

太田おおたさんは北京ぺきんオリンピックに出場しゅつじょうしている。Ota-san participated in the Beijing Olympics.

エジソンは白熱電球はくねつ発明はつめいしている。Edison invented the incandescent light bulb.

Key Points On「ている」

「ている」has several uses.

Uses of「ている」
・For what’s happening now (Progress) ・For what’s been happening
・For habits and regular occurrences ・For result of state/condition
・For career, experience, or record

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