-고 있다 – Korean progressive: be doing
- Meaning
- be doing (right now)
- Level
- Beginner
- Topic
- Verb endings & tenses
Describes an action in progress, like English “-ing”: 먹고 있어요 = I am eating. The honorific version is -고 계시다.
Key rules
- -고 있다 = -ing
- Very common form
- Works with all verbs
- 하다 verb progressive
- Very common
- Action in progress
- Entertainment
- No stem change
Examples with -고 있다
The highlighted part is the grammar form.
- 지금 밥을 먹고 있어요 Jigeum babeul meokgo isseoyo I am eating rice now Verb stem + 고 있어요 for ongoing action. 먹 + 고 있어요 · Base form: 먹다 (meokda)
- 한국어를 공부하고 있어요 Hangugeoreul gongbuhago isseoyo I am studying Korean 공부하 + 고 있어요 · Base form: 공부하다
- TV를 보고 있어요 TV reul bogo isseoyo I am watching TV 보 + 고 있어요 · Base form: 보다
- 음악을 듣고 있어요 Eumageul deutgo isseoyo I am listening to music 듣 + 고 있어요 (ㄷ doesn't change here) · Base form: 듣다
- 책을 읽고 있어요 Chaekeul ilkgo isseoyo I am reading a book 읽 + 고 있어요 · Base form: 읽다
- 친구를 기다리고 있어요 Chingureul gidarigo isseoyo I am waiting for my friend 기다리 + 고 있어요 · Base form: 기다리다
- 지금 일하고 있어요 Jigeum ilhago isseoyo I am working now 일하 + 고 있어요 · Base form: 일하다
- 동생이 자고 있어요 Dongsaengi jago isseoyo My younger sibling is sleeping 자 + 고 있어요 · Base form: 자다
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More: verb endings & tenses
-ㅂ니다 / -습니다Formal polite endingformal polite statement-아요 / -어요Polite present 해요 formpolite, friendly statement or question-았- / -었-Past tensedid, was안 + verb / -지 않다Negative sentencesdo not, is not-고 싶다Want to dowant to (do something)-(으)ㄹ 거예요Future tensewill, going to-(으)세요Polite requests and commandsplease do-(으)ㅂ시다 / -(으)ㄹ까요?Let’s / shall we?let’s, shall we-(으)ㄹ 수 있다 / 없다Can / cannotcan, be able to
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