The Progressive/CONTINUED STATE: ～ている
When used with the particle て, いる functions as a supplementary verb. In Japanese, a supplementary verb is a verb that loses some or all of its literal connotations to serve (a) specific grammatical purpose(s). Although it retains some resemblance to its basic meaning of indicating state, ～ている should be treated separately from いる.
～ている is most known for its role in making the “progressive form” (進行形), but it is also known for having several interrelated nuances that relate to other structures in English, causing great difficulty for learners to distinguish between them in context as well as execute in practice.
Conjugation Recap
This grammar point uses the conjunctive particle て. Conjunctions made with it remain the same. The only thing being done is that we are adding something after て itself. Nonetheless, let’s recap how to conjugate with て and how to conjugate いる (in the context of being after て).
| Verb Class | Basic Form | 連用形＋～て |
| –iru1 Ichidan | 見る (to see) | 見て |
| –eru Ichidan | 食べる (to eat) | 食べて |
| K-Type Godan | 書く (to write) | 書いて |
| G-Type Godan | 脱ぐ (to undress) | 脱いで |
| S-Type Godan | 貸す (to lend) | 貸して |
| N-Type Godan | 死ぬ (to die) | 死んで |
| M-Type Godan | 打ち込む (to hammer in) | 打ち込んで |
| T-Type Godan | 立つ (to stand) | 立って |
| R-Type Godan | 知る (to know) | 知って |
| K-Type Godan (Irregular) | 行く (to go) | 行って |
| W-Type Godan (Irregular) | 言う (to say) | 言って |
| Sahen | する (to do) | して |
| Kahen | 来る (to come) | 来（き）て |
| Copula | だ (to be) | で |
| Plain Speech | Polite Speech | |
| Non-Past | ～ている | ～ています |
| Past | ～ていた | ～ていました |
| Negative | ～ていない | ～ていません ～ていないです |
| Negative Past | ～ていなかった | ～ていませんでした ～ていなかったです |
The meaning of ～ている is dependent on the semantic nature of the verb it is used with; therefore, single-word translations for its conjugations are not reliable. Over the course of this lesson, take note of how examples are translated to get a feel for how to translate it.
～ている
Correctly interpreting ～ている depends on what kind of verb is being used with it. “Kind” here does not refer to how the verb conjugates, but rather what it means semantically and its relation to verbs of similar meaning.
-ing
The main usage of ～ている is to indicate the progressive form, also known as the “-ing form” in English. The agent of the verb is doing something, which itself is an ongoing state in the present time. Likewise, the progressive form can also indicate events that are happening without a willful agent. This divide usually manifests as the difference between action verbs (動作動詞) and stative verbs (状態動詞) respectively. In either case, the verb ought to be one that takes time to occur.
1. 太朗は朝ご飯を食べています。（食べる ＝ 動作動詞）
Taro is eating breakfast.
2. お母さんは晩御飯の準備をしています。（準備をする ＝ 動作動詞）
My mother is preparing dinner.
3. 日が短くなっている。（短くなる ＝ 状態動詞2）
The days are getting shorter.
4. 今日も穏やかなお天気が続いていますね。（続く ＝ 状態動詞）
The mild weather is continuing into today, huh?
5. 明治大学で法律を勉強しています。（勉強する ＝ 動作動詞）
I am studying law at Meiji University.
6. ファイルを編集しています。（編集する ＝ 動作動詞）
I am editing the file.
When paired with the negative, the progressive sense of “not doing something” overlaps with the notion of “having not done something.” In Japanese, context clues would distinguish these aspect dynamics which would always be morphologically clear in English.
7. まだ食べていませんよ。
I’m still not eating.
≈I haven’t eaten yet.
When used with a time expression showing duration, ～ている may be interpreted as the present progressive perfect tense – “has been…-ing.”
8. かれこれ一時間ずっと同じ作業をやっています。
I’ve been doing the same work for the last hour or so straight.
As for ～ていた, it may correspond to the past progressive—”was/were… -ing”—or the past progressive perfect—”had been… -ing”—depending on context as Japanese lacks separate perfect tense conjugations.
9. 子供は宿題をしていた。
The kid(s) was/were doing homework.
10. 川崎幸太郎は同じ工場で10年ほどチーズケーキを作っていた。
Kotaro Kawasaki had been making cheesecakes at the same factory for around 10 years.
Habit
There are instances when the action marked with ～ている is not literally being done now, but it is, in fact, something the agent habitually does. At times, context will be needed to distinguish something being done now from something being done continuously (as a habit).
11. A学校に通っています。
Meaning 1: I go to School A.
Meaning 2: I am commuting to School A.
12. 天才はいつも勉強に打ち込んでいる。
Geniuses are always diving into studies.
13. お父さんは毎朝早起きしています。
My father wakes up early every morning.
14. 長いことシャワーを浴びてる人って3中でいったい何をやっていますか？
So, the people who take long showers, what exactly are they doing in there?
An extension of this meaning is to indicate history of having done something, which may or may not be cyclical.
15. アレックスさんはもう10回も日本に旅行していますよ。
Alex has already traveled to Japan 10 times.
16. 阿部元首相が亡くなってからもう一年経っているんだね。
A year has already passed since Former Prime Minister Abe passed away, huh.
Resultant State
Many verbs in Japanese known as 瞬間動詞 (instantaneous verbs), meaning they capture the instant in time in which the action occurs. When used with ～ている, they denote the maintaining of said state that began with the onset of the verb itself. For instance, when you stand up, the act of standing is marked by 立つ, whereas 立っている indicates that the agent is still standing upon having stood up.
17. ネクタイが曲っている。
(My) necktie is crooked.
18. 古着を着ています。
I’m wearing old clothes. 〇
I’m putting on old clothes. X
19. 彼女は長い髪をしている。
She has long hair.
20. 教師をしています。
I am a teacher.
21. 私は東京駅の近くに住んでいます。
I live near Tokyo Station.
22. お母さんによく似ていますね。
You resemble your mother well.
Many such verbs that are interpreted this way are intransitive. Great examples include 開く (to be open), 閉まる (to be closed), 入る (to go/be in), 出る (to go/come out), 壊れる (to be broken), 汚れる (to be dirty), etc. If the intransitive verb indicates a change to the status quo, ～ている indicates the state of being that comes into being upon that change.
23. その橋は石でできている。
The bridge is made of stone.
24. この机は壊れています。
This desk is broken.
25. 砂糖はもう入っています。
Sugar is already in it.
26. 町は谷に位置している。
The town lies in the valley.
27. 山がそびえている。
The mountain towers above (everything).
28. その教科書は初学者に適しています。
The textbook is suitable for beginners.
29. その時計は5分進んでいます。
The clock is five minutes fast.
30. 疲れています。
I’m tired.
31. お風呂はもう沸いていますか。
Is the bath hot yet?
32. 東京はどこへ行っても混んでいる。
Tokyo is crowded wherever you go.
～ている may still be interpreted in this way with transitive verbs. In such contexts, the verb is not one that is acted out.
33. 私は車を持っています。
I own a vehicle.
34. この金額は総合保険を含んでいますか。
Does this price include fully comprehensive insurance?
It must be noted that the existential verbs ある and いる cannot be used with ～ている4. Avoiding ～ている with them may involve not using ～ている at all or even switching to another verb that expresses a state of being.
35. 今晩空いている部屋はありますか。
Do you have any vacant rooms this evening?
36a. 木になっていたリンゴを集めた。〇
36b. 木にあっていたリンゴを集めた。X
36c. 木にあったリンゴを集めた。??
I gathered the apples that [had ripened/were] on the tree.
The verb なる used in Ex. 36a is written in kanji as 生る with the meaning of “to bear fruit.” What makes 36c unnatural is that it sounds as if the apple is somehow out of place inside a tree.
Similarly, the existential verb 存在する (to exist) is often not natural with ～ている unless context allows for the present perfect tense.
37a. 幽霊は存在する。
37b. 幽霊は昔々から存在している。
37a. Ghosts exist.
37b. Ghosts have existed since long ago.
Generally speaking, if the verb in question typically happens in an instant, describing the process in the moment will require other grammar points. How exactly one goes about this will vary based on the semantic nature of the verb. In the following examples, Iteration B indicates how one would salvage the progressive interpretation of ～ている at the cost of adding more grammar.
38a. お前はもう死んでいる！
38b. お前はもう死にかけている！
38a. You’re already dead!
38b. You’re already dying!
39a. あの赤ちゃんが生まれて初めて両足で立っているよ！
39b. あの赤ちゃんが生まれて初めて両足で立とうとしているよ！
39a. That baby is standing on their feet for the first time in their life!
39b. That baby is attempting to stand on their feet for the first time in their life!
40a. ジャケットを身に着けている。
40b. ジャケットを身に着けているところだ。
40a. I’ve put on a jacket.
40b. I’m putting on a jacket.
41a. 田中は銀行に行っています。
41b. 田中は銀行に行く途中です。
41a. Tanaka has gone to the bank.
41b. Tanaka is on the way to the bank.
42a. 数学が重要になっている。
42b. 数学がだんだん重要になってきている。
42a. Math has become important.
42b. Math is becoming ever more important.
43. 店員さんが飲み物を持ってきている最中だ。
The store employee is in the middle of bringing over the drinks.
Resultant State w/ Motion Verbs
For verbs of motion like 行く and 帰る, ～ている typically indicates the state of having already made said transition to the new location and is still there.
44. 彼女は東京に来ています。
She has come to Tokyo.
45. 彼はもう帰っている。
He’s already gone home.
46. 台風８号は小笠原諸島に向かって（きて）います。
Typhoon No. 8 is headed/heading towards the Ogasawara Islands.
The Negative Forms: ～ていない vs ～ないでいる vs ～ずにいる
The typical negative form of ～ている is ～ていない, which simply indicates that some action/state is not (and has not been) happening. However, you may also see ～ないでいる and ～ずにいる5. These forms indicate a perpetual state of some state not being able to come into fruition. The difference between ～ないで and ～ず comes down to style, with the latter being more formal and poetic.
47. 覚えていません。
I don’t remember.
48. 僕は何もしていません。
I’m not doing anything.
49. 決して病気にならないでいることは不可能だ。
It is impossible to never get sick.
50. 彼はいつも落ち着かないでいる。
He is always not at ease.
51. そもそも愛って何なのか誰にも定義ができずにいるのだ。
No one is capable of defining what “love” even is in the first place.
Contractions
～ている is usually contracted to ～てる in casual conversation. Even in polite speech, it is commonplace to hear ～てます instead of ～ています. However, in truly polite situations such as being in an interview, it is avoided.
52. 今の、聞いてましたか。
Were you listening to what I was saying just now?
53. 父は私が何を勉強してるか6知らない。
My dad doesn’t know what I am studying.
54. 動いとる7!
It’s moving!
Word Note: 動く is “to move ” as in to physically move about, not “to move to a different house.” That meaning of the English verb “to move” is carried out by the verb 引っ越す.
Ongoing Action → Static Result
To conclude, we will look at a sample of verbs with which ～ている defaults to its meaning of marking a resultant state as opposed to the progressive form. The verbs chosen have been specifically selected for commonly being misinterpreted by learners. In the chart below, you also get a glimpse at how ～ている overlaps with ～た, especially when used in the 連体形.
| ～た・ている Noun | V～ている | V～た |
| 割れ｛た・ている｝卵 A broken egg. | 卵が割れている。 The egg is broken. | 卵が割れた。 The egg broke. |
| やせ｛た・ている｝姿 A slim figure | 姿がやせている。 To have a slim figure | 姿がやせた。 Figure got skinny. |
| 太っ｛た・ている｝彼 He who is fat | 彼は太っている。 He is fat. | 彼は太った。 He got fat. |
| 穴が開い｛た・ている｝壁 A wall with a hole | 壁に穴が開いている。 There’s a hole in the wall. | 壁に穴が開いた。 A hole opened up in the wall. |
| 歪ん｛だ・でいる｝見方 A distorted viewpoint | 見方が歪んでいる。 (Your/their) viewpoint is distorted. | |
| 腐った橋 A rotten bridge 腐っている8橋 A rotting/rotten bridge | 橋が腐っている。 The bridge is rotting/rotten. | 橋が腐った。 The bridge rotted. |
| 凹ん｛だ・でいる｝ドア A dented door | ドアが凹んでいる。 The door is dented. | ドアが凹んだ。 The door got dented. |
| 凍っ｛た・ている｝川 A frozen river | 川が凍っている。 The river is frozen/freezing. | 川が凍った。 The river froze. |
| 乾い｛た・ている｝砂 Dry sand | 砂が乾いている。 The sand is dry/drying. | 砂が乾いた。 The sand dried. |
| ひびが入っ｛た・ている｝壁 Cracked wall | 壁にひびが入っている。 There are cracks in the wall. | 壁にひびが入った。 Cracks have gotten in the wall. |
| 曲がっ｛た・ている｝細道 A twisted narrow path | 細道が曲がっている。 The narrow path is twisted. | |
| 欠け｛た・ている｝茶碗 A chipped teacup | 茶碗が欠けている。 The teacup is chipped. | 茶碗が欠けた。 The teacup got chipped. |
- The proper terminology for –iru-ending and –eru-ending ichidan verbs respectively are 上一段動詞 and 下一段動詞. ↩︎
- 短くなる is labeled as a stative verb instead of a stative adjective because なる is the verb, with 短く, the 連用形 of the adjective 短い, adverbially modifying it, not the other way around. ↩︎
- って, a contraction of ～というのは here, can be viewed as a colloquial topicalizer. ↩︎
- In some dialects, いる can be used with ～ている, resulting in いてる. This is commonplace in Kansai Dialects, and it is always used in the present progressive perfect tense. ↩︎
- While not grammatically incorrect, the omission of に from ～ずにいる is excessively rare. ↩︎
- The particle か here is used to indicate an embedded question, which is “what am I studying.” ↩︎
- In other regions of Japan, you will hear ～とる, ～よる, or even ～ちょる instead of ～てる. Sometimes, these different forms are used for specific meanings of ～ている. Because this is beyond the realm of Standard Japanese, such differences will be for a future discussion. Incidentally, all of these dialectal variants involve おる, which in Standard Japanese is the humble form of いる. ↩︎
- 腐っている橋 has two interpretations: the bridge can be perceived as already being in the state of rot—”rotten” or in the process of “rotting.” Meaning, in contrast to the other verbs in the chart which are all interpreted as instantaneous verbs, the process behind 腐る necessitates some time. In the context of a bridge, the likelihood of enough time having already passed is high, leading to there being little difference between either interpretation. ↩︎