ている as a Continuation of an Action vs. a State

1. Something has started and not finished yet
2. An action is repeating over and over
3. A new state is continuing after the action completed

Depending on the verb in the sentence adding いる will mean something different. So how do you know how いる will change the meaning? Continue below for the answer.

Unfinished or Continuing Actions

As stated above, a continued action is something that is happening now and is unfinished. Anytime you have a verb that can be done over a period of time, then いる means the same thing as adding -ing in English.

歩いている
あるいている
walking

食べているたべている
eating

待っているまっている
waiting

Repeated Actions

Any action that is quick or punctual that can be done over and over is a repeated action. Adding いる to these verbs also means the same thing as -ing in English.

跳んでいるとんでいる
jumping

蹴っている
けっている
kicking

投げているなげている
throwing

Continuation of a State

Finally, this is where Japanese works differently from English. Anytime you have an action that can not be extended for a period of time or repeated then adding いる works differently.

In this situation adding いる means that the action has completed and the state after the completed action is continuing.

死んでいるしんでいる
dead

落ちているおちている
dropped (and still on the ground)

忘れているわすれている
forgot

Resources

• Aspect vs Tense
• 相 (Wikipedia – Japanese)