Ongoing states with ている

Core meaning and form

Attach いる to the て-form: 読んでいる, 結婚している, 知っている. The verb and context determine the reading; it is not simply equivalent to English “be doing.”

• Form: Attach いる to the て-form: 読んでいる, 結婚している, 知っている.
• Core use: The construction covers actions in progress, repeated activity, and states resulting from change.
• Context: The verb and context determine the reading; it is not simply equivalent to English “be doing.”

Examples in context

Common errors

• Do not select this pattern from an English translation alone; check its attachment and discourse function.
• Keep the surrounding sentence in a consistent plain, polite, spoken, or written register.

Quick summary

• Attach いる to the て-form: 読んでいる, 結婚している, 知っている.
• The construction covers actions in progress, repeated activity, and states resulting from change.
• The verb and context determine the reading; it is not simply equivalent to English “be doing.”