Unit 2 - Section 4: 〜ています

Practice Quiz

ています - Progressive/Habitual Action (is/are -ing)

Learn to express actions in progress or habitual actions using ています. One of the most important and frequently used patterns in Japanese.

Formation Pattern

Pattern: [Verb て-form] + います

The い in います can become い or e depending on politeness

Dictionary て-form ています Translation
走る (hashiru) 走って 走っています is running
読む (yomu) 読んで 読んでいます is reading
食べる (taberu) 食べて 食べています is eating
勉強する (benkyou suru) 勉強して 勉強しています is studying

Three Main Uses

1. Action in Progress (Right Now):

What is happening at this moment

  • 今、雨が降っています。 - "It's raining now."
  • 子どもたちが遊んでいます。 - "The children are playing."
2. Habitual / Routine Actions:

What someone does regularly or repeatedly

  • 毎日、学校に行っています。 - "I go to school every day."
  • 私は日本語を勉強しています。 - "I study Japanese." (ongoing activity)
3. Resulting State (Completion with Effect):

An action completed but with continuing effect

  • ドアが開いています。 - "The door is open." (opened state)
  • 彼は結婚しています。 - "He is married." (married state)

Conjugation and Politeness

Form Example Usage
Polite Present 走っています Standard polite
Plain Form 走ってる Casual/informal
Past 走っていました Was doing/used to do
Negative 走っていません is not doing

Real-World Examples

何なにをしていますか。
[Nani wo shite imasu ka]
Translation: What are you doing?
今、宿題しゅくだいをしています。
[Ima, shukudai wo shite imasu]
Translation: I'm doing homework right now.
兄あには日本にほんに住んでいます。
[Ani wa nihon ni sunde imasu]
Translation: My older brother lives in Japan. (habitual state)
窓まどが壊こわれています。
[Mado ga kowarete imasu]
Translation: The window is broken. (resulting state)

Study Tips

Master ています:
  • Most common pattern: Extremely frequently used in everyday Japanese
  • Three uses: Distinguish between (1) in progress, (2) habitual, (3) resulting state
  • Casual form: ～てる is very common in casual speech
  • Practice: Describe what people around you are doing right now
  • Listen for it: You'll hear this pattern constantly in Japanese media
Course Navigation
Study Tips
  • Read each example carefully
  • Practice pronunciation aloud
  • Create your own sentences to reinforce memory
  • Finish the section quiz