The 4 Verb Types of 〜ている — Why the Same Form Has Different Meanings

• Introduction
• ① Stative Verbs — They Usually Do Not Take "~teiru"
• Examples
• ...However!
• Why is that?
• English has the same mechanism
• The interesting case of "live"
• ② Continuous Verbs — ~ている = Action in Progress
• Examples
• Close to ~ing, but not the same
• It can also mean a habit
• ③ Instantaneous Verbs — ~ている = Resulting State (The Climax)
• Examples
• Let's compare ② and ③
• Tendency: Transitive vs. Intransitive
• Bonus: Type 4 Verbs — ~ている Is Most Natural When Describing a State
• Examples
• Summary
• ~てしまう Bonus: How Verb Types Affect Other Grammar
• Practice
• 📱 Short Videos (English)
• 📱 Short Videos (Español)
• 🎓 Want to Level Up?

Introduction

Your friend asks you a question in Japanese:

"Maria-san, are you married?"

You start thinking.

"Kekkon shiteimasu"... "shiteimasu"...

Since "~teiru" is equivalent to "~ing"...

Is it "I am getting married"?

No, that is wrong.

It is "I am married."

Here is another one.

A friend looks at a photo and says:

"This child looks like her mom."

"Niteiru"...

"She is resembling her mom"?

No, that is wrong.

It is "She looks like her mom."

This is strange, isn't it?

Even though it uses "~teiru," it does not mean "~ing."

So, what exactly is "~teiru"?

You will understand everything today.

Japanese verbs are divided into three main types, plus one extra. Once you know these types, you will never get confused by "~teiru" again. Let's get started!

This classification was created by Haruhiko Kindaichi. He was a very famous linguist who studied the Japanese language. Kindaichi-sensei thought about it this way: How does the meaning of a verb change when you add "~teiru"? He researched this and categorized Japanese verbs into:

① Stative verbs: Often cannot use "~teiru."

② Continuous verbs: "~teiru" means the action is in progress.

③ Instantaneous verbs: "~teiru" means the resulting state.

+ Bonus: Type 4 verbs: "~teiru" is naturally used when describing a state.

Three main types and one extra. Let's look at them one by one.

① Stative Verbs — They Usually Do Not Take "~teiru"

These verbs are a bit special. The reason is — they usually do not take the "~teiru" form. Look at this:

Examples

「机（つくえ）の上（うえ）にペンがあります。」 → "There is a pen on the desk."

Then, how about "ariteimasu"? ...You cannot say that. You have never heard it before, have you?

「猫（ねこ）がいます。」 → "There is a cat."

"Neko ga iteimasu"? ...That sounds strange, too.

「日本語（にほんご）ができます。」 → "I can speak Japanese." This means "I have the ability."

"Nihongo ga dekiteimasu"? It is not used in this sense.

...However!

There is an interesting point here. In Japanese conversation, we say, "Kono ko, igaito shigoto dekiteru ne" (This kid is actually surprisingly capable at work). Even though it is grammatically a stative verb, in spoken language, "~teiru" sometimes appears. Every language has these kinds of irregularities.

But the basic rule is: "Dekiru = Stative verb → ~teiru is unnecessary." First, please memorize this firmly.

Aru (exist) → Ariteiru (✕)

Iru (exist) → Iteiru (✕)

Dekiru (ability) → Dekiteiru (✕)

Why is that?

These verbs originally express a "state."

• "Aru" is the state of "existing there."
• "Iru" is the state of "being there."
• "Dekiru" regarding ability is the state of "possessing the ability."

They are already states. That is why there is no need to add "~teiru." It basically means, "It is already a state, so we do not need it."

English has the same mechanism

Have, know, like, love, want, live. Do you say these in English?

❌ "I am knowing the answer." → ...No, you don't. You say, ✅ "I know the answer."

❌ "I am liking this song." → ...This is also strange. It is, ✅ "I like this song."

This is for the exact same reason. "Know," "like," and "love" are English stative verbs. Because they are already states, you cannot make them into "~ing." Japanese "aru," "iru," and "dekiru" (in the sense of ability) follow the same mechanism.

The interesting case of "live"

But here is the interesting part. The English verb "live" is a stative verb.

"I live in Tokyo." This is fine. It means "sundeiru."

But in Japanese, we do not say "sumimasu" — we say "sundeimasu."

Even though the concept of "living" is the same, the form "live" is natural in English, while the form "sundeimasu" is natural in Japanese.

The ease of using verb forms varies by language. Knowing this helps you understand, "Oh, that is why the forms are different between English and Japanese."

② Continuous Verbs — ~ている = Action in Progress

When you add "~teiru" to these verbs, it means the action is currently in progress. This is probably the first "~teiru" you learned in your textbook.

Examples

Yomu (read) → Yondeiru (is reading)

「ケンジさんは本（ほん）を読（よ）んでいます。」

"Kenji-san is reading a book." He is literally turning the pages right now.

Kaku (write) → Kaiteiru (is writing)

「マリアさんはレポートを書（か）いています。」

"Maria-san is writing a report." She is in the middle of typing or writing right now.

Aruku (walk) → Aruiteiru (is walking)

「あの人（ひと）は公園（こうえん）を歩（ある）いています。」

"That person is walking in the park." They are moving one step at a time right now.

Close to ~ing, but not the same

This "~teiru" is close to the English "~ing." "I am reading," "I am writing," "I am walking." ...But it is only "close." It is not the "same." The reason will be clear when you see the instantaneous verbs next.

It can also mean a habit

Before that, one more thing. The "~teiru" of continuous verbs can also mean a habit.

「毎朝（まいあさ）、走（はし）っています。」

This does not mean "I am running right now," but "I have a habit of running every morning."

「大学（だいがく）で日本語（にほんご）を勉強（べんきょう）しています。」

It is not about this exact moment, but "something I usually do."

It is not just "in progress." "Things you always do" are also expressed with "~teiru." This is a blind spot, so please remember it!

③ Instantaneous Verbs — ~ている = Resulting State (The Climax)

This is the climax of today. This is where most people make mistakes.

When you add "~teiru" to these verbs, it expresses the state "after" the action is completed. It is no longer "in progress." It is the state after "it is already finished."

Examples

Remember the question from earlier.

結婚（けっこん）する → 結婚している

"Kekkon suru" is an instantaneous verb. Imagine a wedding ceremony. "Yes, I do." This moment is just an instant.

「結婚しています」 is about the time after that instant. The ceremony is over, you are wearing a ring, and you are living together — that is the state.

That is why in English, we say "I am married." It is a state.

❌ "I am getting married" is during the ceremony. They are completely different.

壊（こわ）れる → 壊れている

「この時計（とけい）は壊れています。」

"Kowareru" is also an instantaneous verb. The moment it breaks is an instant.

"Kowareteimasu" is the state after that. That is why in English, we say "It is broken." It is the state after it broke.

❌ "It is breaking" means it is in the process of breaking right now. Completely different.

死（し）ぬ → 死んでいる

「死んでいます」 = He is dead (it already happened)

❌ He is dying (not yet)

始（はじ）まる → 始まっている

「映画（えいが）はもう始まっています。」 → The moment the movie started was an instant. After that, it is being screened.

Let's compare ② and ③

② Continuous verb "Tabeteiru" (eating) → Munching (in the middle of the action).

③ Instantaneous verb "Kekkon shiteiru" (married) → Wearing a ring (after the action is finished).

It is the same "~teiru." But the meanings are completely different. Why? Because the verb types are different. If you do not know this, you might hear "kekkon shiteimasu" and think, "Are they in the middle of the wedding right now?" Once you know it, you will not make that mistake again.

Tendency: Transitive vs. Intransitive

Since those who have read this far are people who really want to learn Japanese, let's dig a little deeper.

Look at the Type 2 verbs: "yomu," "kaku," "taberu," "aruku." These are all transitive verbs or intentional actions. These are actions you decide to do. And they take time.

Look at the Type 3 verbs: "hajimaru," "owaru," "kowareru," "tsuku." These are mostly intransitive verbs. Changes that happen naturally, not by your own will. And they happen in an instant.

Transitive (intentional) → Takes time → Tends to be a continuous verb.

Intransitive (unintentional) → Happens in an instant → Tends to be an instantaneous verb.

It is not a perfect law, but there is this tendency. When you are wondering, "Is this verb continuous or instantaneous?" Try thinking, "Is it an action I do by my own will, or a change that happens naturally?" It is a great hint.

Bonus: Type 4 Verbs — ~ている Is Most Natural When Describing a State

Kindaichi-sensei called this type "Type 4 verbs." Officially, "verbs of state-bearing meaning." And this type is Kindaichi-sensei's original discovery.

I call this verb type something a bit catchier: "Verbs where ~teiru is most natural when describing a state." What does that mean? You will know as soon as you see it.

Examples

似（に）る → "Okaasan ni niteimasu." (She looks like her mother.)

This is natural. You hear it every day.

But what about "Okaasan ni nimasu"? ...It can be said depending on how you phrase the sentence. But to describe the current state, "niteimasu" is much more natural.

優（すぐ）れる → "Kono seihin wa sugureteimasu." (This product is excellent.)

Natural. "Kono seihin wa suguremasu"? ...It sounds like a descriptive text. But to talk about the current evaluation, "sugureteimasu" is more natural.

そびえる → "Fujisan ga sobieteimasu." (Mt. Fuji towers over.)

Natural. It is beautiful Japanese. "Fujisan ga sobiemasu"? ...It sounds like written language. But to describe the scenery in front of you, "sobieteimasu" is more natural.

Niru (resemble) → Niteiru

Sugureru (excel) → Sugureteiru

Sobieru (tower) → Sobieteiru

Isn't that interesting? Type 1 is hard to use with "~teiru." The bonus type is very easy to use with "~teiru" when describing a state. They are exact opposites. Doesn't finding things like this make studying Japanese a little more fun?

Summary

Let's review the 3 points plus the bonus one more time.

1. Stative verbs → Often cannot use "~teiru."
2. Continuous verbs → "~teiru" = In the middle of an action.
3. Instantaneous verbs → "~teiru" = Resulting state.
4. The bonus: Type 4 → "~teiru" is naturally used when describing a state.

~てしまう Bonus: How Verb Types Affect Other Grammar

By the way, this classification also relates to the meaning of "~teshimau."

When you add "~teshimau" to Type 2 verbs → Finishing the action.

"Hon o yonde shimatta" = Finished reading until the end.

When you add "~teshimau" to Type 3 verbs → Irreversible.

"Kowarete shimatta" = It broke.

"Tokei ga kowarete shimatta." (The watch broke.) It will not go back to how it was.

Even though it is the same "~teshimau," the meaning differs based on the verb type. Isn't that interesting?

Practice

Question 1: 「マリアさんは手紙（てがみ）を書（か）いて ＿＿＿＿＿＿ 。」

Question 2: 「電車（でんしゃ）はもう出（で）て ＿＿＿＿＿＿ 。」

Question 3: 「この子（こ）はお父（とう）さんに ＿＿＿＿＿＿ 。」

Question 4: 「机（つくえ）の上（うえ）にペンが ＿＿＿＿＿＿ 。」

Did you get them all right? If you did — you are now a "~teiru" master!

▶️ Watch the video for this lesson

💡 Tip: This video covers advanced grammar. Turn on English subtitles (CC) on your first viewing to fully understand the content.

📱 Short Videos (English)

• ① State Verbs — Stop Using 〜ている Wrong
• ② Continuous Verbs — 〜ている ≠ ~ing
• ③ Instant Verbs — 結婚しています ≠ I'm Getting Married
• ④ Fourth Type — The Rarest Verb Type

📱 Short Videos (Español)

• ① Verbos de estado — Gramática que RECHAZAN 〜ている
• ② Verbos continuos — 〜ている = ~ing
• ③ Verbos instantáneos — Error Común: 結婚しています
• ④ Cuarto tipo — Verbos que SOLO Existen con 〜ている

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