Use the verb and context to interpret ている. It can describe an action in progress, a repeated activity, or a state left by an earlier change.
Look beyond the English -ing ending
今、本を読んでいます describes reading in progress. 毎朝走っています describes a regular activity. 窓が開いています normally describes an open window: the opening has happened and the result remains.
知っています ordinarily means “know,” not “am knowing.” 結婚しています normally describes being married. Memorising one English tense for every ている sentence makes these familiar expressions harder to understand.
Choose the right verb as well as the ending
開く describes something opening; 開ける describes someone opening it. 窓が開いています and 窓を開けています therefore have different structures and ordinary readings. This exercise supplies the verb you must use rather than asking you to guess the intended event.
For negatives, 知りません is the usual polite way to say that you do not know a fact. This drill concentrates on affirmative forms and on changing いる to its polite ending.
Examples to read before you practise
Japanese | Reading / English |
|---|---|
今、本を読んでいます。 | I am reading now. |
窓が開いています。 | The window is open. |
毎朝走っています。 | I run every morning. |
Try six questions
Try these self-check questions from memory, then compare your answers with the explanations. For automatic checking and saved progress, open the related practice after this article.
読む → te-iru form, polite affirmative
開く → te-iru form, polite affirmative
住む → te-iru form, polite affirmative
知る → te-iru form, polite affirmative
走る → te-iru form, polite affirmative
食べている → polite affirmative
Answer key and explanations
読んでいます / よんでいます — Use 読んで plus います.
開いています / あいています — 開く describes the window opening; ている can describe its resulting state.
住んでいます / すんでいます — This is the usual form for stating where you live.
知っています / しっています — 知っています expresses knowing.
走っています / はしっています — る-ending 五段 走る gives 走って.
食べています / たべています — Change いる to います.
Keep learning
Related lessons
Try what you have just read
Recognise the pattern, write an answer from memory, then use it in a short reading. Your existing progress carries over.
Open the three-step lessonSources
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