〜ている (Result of a Change)

So, you’ve already learned that 〜ている often shows actions in progress. But that’s only part of the story.

Sometimes, 〜ている doesn’t show what someone is doing, but rather what state they are in — as a result of a change.

🧠 Meaning

When a change verb (verb that describes instant changes or transitions) is used with ~ている, , it indicates that the change already happened, and the result continues.

📌 Think: “Something changed — and now we’re still in that state.”

Example: 結婚けっこんしている doesn’t mean “is getting married” but “is married” (the state resulting from having gotten married in the past)

🧩 Examples of Change Verbs with 〜ている:

⚠️ Watch Out!

• 行いく (to go) and 来くる (to come) are change verbs
  🛫 ロンドンに行いっています。 → He has gone to/is in London. (Not: He is going to London.)
  🏠 オフィスに来きています。 → She has come to the office. (Not: She is coming to the office.)
  → These are about completed movements, not in-progress actions!
• To express actual ongoing movement, Japanese uses the simple present tense:
  📱 彼かれは今いま、駅えきに行いきます。 (He is going to the station now.)
  🚶 先生せんせいは教室きょうしつに来きます。 (The teacher is coming to the classroom.)
  This works because the present tense in Japanese can refer to both present and future actions.

💡 Quick Tips: How to Tell Change Verbs from Activity Verbs

🕐 The “Time Test”: Ask yourself: “Can this action continue for a period of time?”

✅ Activity Verbs (can last for time):

• 食たべる → “Can eat for 30 minutes” ✅
• 書かく → “Can write for 2 hours” ✅
• With ている = ongoing action (“is eating”, “is writing”)

❌ Change Verbs (happen instantly):

• 結婚けっこんする → “Can marry for 30 minutes”? ❌
• 座すわる → “Can sit down for 10 minutes”? ❌ (sitting DOWN is instant)
• With ている = resulting state (“is married”, “is seated”)

🎯 Memory Trick: If you can add “for X time” to the English meaning and it sounds natural, it’s probably an activity verb. If it sounds weird, it’s likely a change verb.