Continuous Actions & States (～ています)

Expressing Ongoing Actions with ～ています

The ～ています form is used to describe actions that are currently in progress or ongoing states. This is similar to the "-ing" form in English.

How to Form Present Continuous (～ています)

Convert the verb to its て-form (as learned in Lesson 11)
Add います

Dictionary Form	て-Form	Present Continuous
読よむ	読よんで	読よんでいます
食たべる	食たべて	食たべています
する	して	しています

Uses of ～ています

1. Actions in Progress Now

今いま、本ほんを読よんでいます。

Ima, hon o yonde imasu.

I am reading a book now.

Note: Current action in progress

彼かれは料理りょうりを作つくっています。

Kare wa ryōri o tsukutte imasu.

He is making a meal.

Note: Action happening now

何なにをしていますか？

Nani o shite imasu ka?

What are you doing?

Note: Common question about current activity

2. Habitual or Regular Actions

毎日まいにち日本語にほんごを勉強べんきょうしています。

Mainichi nihongo o benkyō shite imasu.

I study Japanese every day.

Note: Habitual action

この大学だいがくで働はたらいています。

Kono daigaku de hataraite imasu.

I work at this university.

Note: Regular, ongoing situation

3. Resultant States

Some verbs in the ～ています form describe the current state resulting from a past action.

窓まどが開あいています。

Mado ga aite imasu.

The window is open.

Note: State resulting from someone opening it

結婚けっこんしています。

Kekkon shite imasu.

I am married.

Note: Ongoing state resulting from past action

Casual Contraction: ～てる

In spoken language, ～ています is often shortened to ～てる:

何なにをしているの？ → 何なにしてるの？

Nani o shite iru no? → Nani shiteru no?

What are you doing?

Note: Casual contraction of ～ている

彼かれは寝ねている。 → 彼かれ、寝ねてる。

Kare wa nete iru. → Kare, neteru.

He's sleeping.

Note: Another casual contraction example

Grammar Note:
In casual speech, ～ています is often shortened to ～てる:
食たべています → 食たべてる
読よんでいます → 読よんでる

Cultural Note:
When meeting someone, Japanese people often ask
"何なにをしていますか？"
(What are you doing?)
as a way of asking what the person is currently occupied with.
This is different from
"何なにをしますか？"
which would typically ask about habitual actions instead.

Describing Past Ongoing Actions (～ていました)

The ～ていました form expresses actions that were in progress or continuing in the past, similar to "was doing" or "were doing" in English. This form is essential for describing scenes, ongoing activities, or states in the past.

How to Form Past Continuous (～ていました)

Convert the verb to its て-form
Add いました for the past continuous

Present Continuous	Past Continuous
読よんでいます	読よんでいました
読よべています	読よべていました
しています	していました

Examples:

昨日きのう、本ほんを読よんでいました。

Kinō, hon o yonde imashita.

I was reading a book yesterday.

友達ともだちが料理りょうりを作つくっていました。

Tomodachi ga ryōri o tsukutte imashita.

My friend was making a meal.

何なにをしていましたか？

Nani o shite imashita ka?

What were you doing?

教室きょうしつで勉強べんきょうしていました。

Kyōshitsu de benkyō shite imashita.

I was studying in the classroom.

Using Past Continuous to Set a Scene

The ～ていました form is particularly useful for setting the scene when telling a story:

雨あめが降ふっていました。風かぜも強つよかったです。

Ame ga futte imashita. Kaze mo tsuyokatta desu.

It was raining. The wind was also strong.

Note: Setting a scene

公園こうえんでは子供こどもたちが遊あそんでいました。

Kōen de wa kodomo-tachi ga asonde imashita.

In the park, children were playing.

Note: Describing a scene

Expressing "When..." with ～ていたとき

To describe what was happening when something else occurred, use ～ていたとき:

電話でんわが鳴なったとき、寝ねていました。

Denwa ga natta toki, nete imashita.

When the phone rang, I was sleeping.

Note: Using ～ていたとき

友達ともだちが来きたとき、宿題しゅくだいをしていました。

Tomodachi ga kita toki, shukudai o shite imashita.

When my friend came, I was doing homework.

Usage Tip:
The ～ていました form is excellent for creating vivid descriptions in storytelling. It helps listeners visualize what was happening at a specific moment in the past.

Connecting Sequential Actions with て-Form

The て-form can be used to connect multiple actions in sequence, similar to saying "I did A and then did B" in English. This creates a smooth narrative flow.

Basic Pattern

Verb1 (て-form) + Verb2 → "do Verb1 and then do Verb2"

Present Tense Examples

朝あさごはんを食たべて、学校がっこうに行いきます。

Asa gohan o tabete, gakkō ni ikimasu.

I eat breakfast and go to school.

Note: Present tense sequence

テレビを見みて、寝ねます。

Terebi o mite, nemasu.

I watch TV and go to sleep.

Note: Present tense sequence

Past Tense Examples

コーヒーを飲のんで、本ほんを読よみました。

Kōhī o nonde, hon o yomimashita.

I drank coffee and read a book.

Note: Past tense sequence

映画えいがを見みて、食事しょくじをしました。

Eiga o mite, shokuji o shimashita.

I watched a movie and had a meal.

Note: Past tense sequence

Connecting Multiple Actions

You can chain several actions by using multiple て-forms:

起おきて、
顔かおを洗あらって、朝あさごはんを食たべます。

Okite, kao o aratte, asa gohan o tabemasu.

I wake up, wash my face, and eat breakfast.

Note: Multiple actions in sequence

駅えきまで歩あるいて、
電車でんしゃに乗のって、会社かいしゃに行いきました。

Eki made aruite, densha ni notte, kaisha ni ikimashita.

I walked to the station, took the train, and went to the company.

Note: Multiple past actions

Using て-Form to Show Cause and Result

The て-form can also show that the first action leads to or causes the second:

雨あめが降ふって、試合しあいが中止ちゅうしになりました。

Ame ga futte, shiai ga chūshi ni narimashita.

It rained, so the match was canceled.

Note: Cause and effect

道みちが混こんでいて、遅おくれました。

Michi ga konde ite, okuremashita.

The road was crowded, so I was late.

Note: Another cause and effect example

Grammar Note:
The final verb in a sequence determines the overall tense of the sentence. If the final verb is past tense, the entire sequence is understood as happening in the past.

Cultural Note:
Japanese narratives often rely heavily on chaining actions with the て-form. When describing your day or telling a story, connecting actions with て-form creates a more natural flow than using separate sentences.

Expressing Past Existence (～がありました/いました)

To describe what existed in the past, Japanese uses two distinct verbs depending on whether you're talking about living beings or inanimate objects:

ありました (arimashita): For inanimate things/objects/events
いました (imashita): For living beings (people, animals)

How to Form Past Existence Expressions

Type	Present Form	Past Form	Usage
Inanimate	[thing] があります	[thing] がありました	Buildings, objects, events
Animate	[being] がいます	[being] がいました	People, animals

Inanimate Examples (ありました):

昨日きのう、公園こうえんでイベントがありました。

Kinō, kōen de ibento ga arimashita.

Yesterday, there was an event in the park.

Note: Inanimate existence (event)

机つくえの上うえに本ほんがありました。

Tsukue no ue ni hon ga arimashita.

There was a book on the desk.

Note: Inanimate object (book)

昔むかし、この場所ばしょに大おおきな建物たてものがありました。

Mukashi, kono basho ni ōkina tatemono ga arimashita.

Long ago, there was a large building in this place.

Note: Past existence that no longer exists

Animate Examples (いました):

昨日きのう、公園こうえんに猫ねこがいました。

Kinō, kōen ni neko ga imashita.

Yesterday, there was a cat in the park.

Note: Living being (animal)

教室きょうしつに学生がくせいが三人さんにんいました。

Kyōshitsu ni gakusei ga san-nin imashita.

There were three students in the classroom.

Note: Living beings with counter

子供こどもの頃ころ、家いえに犬いぬがいました。

Kodomo no koro, ie ni inu ga imashita.

When I was a child, there was a dog in my house.

Note: Past pet ownership

Describing Past Scenes

Combining past existence expressions with past continuous creates vivid descriptions:

公園こうえんには大おおきな木きがあって、
子供こどもたちが遊あそんでいました。

Kōen ni wa ōkina ki ga atte, kodomo-tachi ga asonde imashita.

There was a big tree in the park, and children were playing.

Note: Combining existence and ongoing action

パーティーには多おおくの人ひとがいて、
皆みなが話はなしていました。

Pātī ni wa ōku no hito ga ite, mina ga hanashite imashita.

There were many people at the party, and everyone was talking.

Note: Describing a social scene

Cultural Note:
Japanese narratives and folk tales often begin with a description of what existed. The classic opening to fairy tales is
"昔々むかしむかしあるところに..."
(mukashi mukashi aru tokoro ni...)
meaning "Long, long ago, in a certain place, there was/were...". This pattern establishes the scene before moving on to the actions.

Expressing Reason or Cause with て-Form

Beyond connecting sequential actions, the て-form can also express reasons or causes. This is similar to using "so" or "because" in English.

Basic Pattern

Verb1/Adjective1 (て-form) + Verb2/Adjective2 → "Because of [Verb1/Adjective1], [Verb2/Adjective2]"

Examples with Verbs

電車でんしゃが遅おくれて、会議かいぎに遅おくれました。

Densha ga okurete, kaigi ni okuremashita.

The train was delayed, so I was late for the meeting.

Note: Cause and effect with verbs

財布さいふを忘わすれて、買かい物ものできませんでした。

Saifu o wasurete, kaimono dekimasendeshita.

I forgot my wallet, so I couldn't shop.

Note: Cause and negative result

Examples with Adjectives and Nouns

天気てんきが良よくて、散歩さんぽに行いきました。

Tenki ga yokute, sanpo ni ikimashita.

The weather was good, so I went for a walk.

Note: Cause with an adjective

忙いそがしくて、会あえませんでした。

Isogashikute, aemasen deshita.

I was busy, so I couldn't meet (with you).

Note: Cause with an adjective and negative result

Set Phrases with て-Form

Certain expressions with て-form have specific meanings related to problems or emotions:

お金かねがなくて困こまります。

Okane ga nakute komarimasu.

I have no money and it's a problem.

Note: Set phrase with 困る (to be troubled)

試験しけんに受うかって嬉うれしいです。

Shiken ni ukatte ureshii desu.

I passed the exam and I'm happy.

Note: Expressing emotion resulting from an action

Usage Note:
When using て-form to express cause, the relationship between the clauses is more implied than when using more explicit causation markers like から or ので. The て-form causation is more common in casual speech and feels more natural in many contexts.

Expressing Past Experiences (～たことがある)

The ～たことがある structure is used to talk about experiences that have happened at least once in the past. It's similar to the present perfect tense in English ("have done" or "have been").

How to Form Experience Expressions

Take the plain past form of the verb (～た form)
Add ことがある (or ことがあります in polite speech)

Dictionary Form	Plain Past Form	Experience Form
行いく	行いった	行いったことがある
食たべる	食たべた	食たべたことがある
する	した	したことがある

Basic Examples:

日本にほんに行いったことがあります。

Nihon ni itta koto ga arimasu.

I have been to Japan.

Note: Travel experience

すしを食たべたことがあります。

Sushi o tabeta koto ga arimasu.

I have eaten sushi.

Note: Food experience

富士山ふじさんに登のぼったことがあります。

Fuji-san ni nobotta koto ga arimasu.

I have climbed Mt. Fuji.

Note: Achievement experience

Negative Form (Never done):

中国ちゅうごくに行いったことがありません。

Chūgoku ni itta koto ga arimasen.

I have never been to China.

Note: Negative experience

お酒さけを飲のんだことがありません。

Osake o nonda koto ga arimasen.

I have never drunk alcohol.

Note: Never had the experience

Question Form (Have you ever...?):

雪ゆきを見みたことがありますか？

Yuki o mita koto ga arimasu ka?

Have you ever seen snow?

Note: Question about natural phenomenon

車くるまを運転うんてんしたことがありますか？

Kuruma o unten shita koto ga arimasu ka?

Have you ever driven a car?

Note: Question about skill or activity

Using ～たことがある in Conversation

A: 京都きょうとに行いったことがありますか？
B: はい、二回にかい行いったことがあります。

A: Kyōto ni itta koto ga arimasu ka? B: Hai, nikai itta koto ga arimasu.

A: Have you ever been to Kyoto? B: Yes, I have been there twice.

Note: Conversation example

A: 納豆なっとうを食たべたことがありますか？
B: いいえ、食たべたことがありません。
どんな味あじですか？

A: Nattō o tabeta koto ga arimasu ka? B: Iie, tabeta koto ga arimasen. Donna aji desu ka?

A: Have you ever eaten natto? B: No, I have never eaten it. What does it taste like?

Note: Food experience conversation

Grammar Point:
For polite speech, add です at the end:
行いったことがあります
(I have been)
For negative experiences (never done):
行いったことがありません
(I have never been)

Cultural Note:
This expression is very common in Japanese conversation, especially when discussing travel, food, or cultural experiences.
Asking "～たことがありますか？" (Have you ever done...?)
is a great way to find common topics to discuss.

Putting It All Together: Telling a Story

Let's combine all the patterns we've learned to create a natural, flowing narrative about past events. In Japanese storytelling, these different grammatical forms work together to create rich, detailed descriptions.

Sample Narrative: A Day at the Park

昨日きのう、公園こうえんに行いきました。
天気てんきが良よくて、たくさんの人ひとがいました。
子供こどもたちが遊あそんでいて、犬いぬを連つれている。
人ひともいました
私わたしはベンチに座すわって、
本ほんを読よんでいました。
友達ともだちに会あって、
一緒いっしょにコーヒーを飲のみました。
その後あと、家いえに帰かえって、
夕ゆうごはんを作つくりました。
楽たのしい一日いちにちでした。

Kinō, kōen ni ikimashita. Tenki ga yokute, takusan no hito ga imashita. Kodomo-tachi ga asonde ite, inu o tsurete iru hito mo imashita. Watashi wa benchi ni suwatte, hon o yonde imashita. Tomodachi ni atte, issho ni kōhī o nomimashita. Sono ato, ie ni kaette, yūgohan o tsukurimashita. Tanoshii ichinichi deshita.

Yesterday, I went to the park. The weather was good, and there were many people. Children were playing, and there were also people walking dogs. I was sitting on a bench and reading a book. I met a friend, and we drank coffee together. Afterward, I went home and made dinner. It was a fun day.

Note: This narrative combines sequences of actions, ongoing states, past existence, and cause-effect relationships.

Practice Dialogue: Talking About a Trip

A: 先週せんしゅうの週末しゅうまつ、どこに行いきましたか？
(Senshū no shūmatsu, doko ni ikimashita ka?)
"Where did you go last weekend?"

B: 京都きょうとに行いきました。友達ともだちと一緒いっしょに行いきました。
(Kyōto ni ikimashita. Tomodachi to issho ni ikimashita.)
"I went to Kyoto. I went with my friend."

A: 京都きょうとに行いったことがありますか？
(Kyōto ni itta koto ga arimasu ka?)
"Have you been to Kyoto before?"

B: はい、今回こんかいで三回目さんかいめです。金閣寺きんかくじに行いって、
写真しゃしんをたくさん撮とりました。美うつくしかったですよ。
(Hai, konkai de sankai-me desu. Kinkaku-ji ni itte, shashin o takusan torimashita. Utsukushikatta desu yo.)
"Yes, this was my third time. I went to Kinkaku-ji and took many photos. It was beautiful."

A: いいですね。天気てんきはどうでしたか？
(Ii desu ne. Tenki wa dō deshita ka?)
"That's nice. How was the weather?"

B: 着ついたとき、雨あめが降ふっていましたが、
すぐに止やみました。天気てんきが良よくなって、
観光かんこうが楽たのしめました。
(Tsuita toki, ame ga futte imashita ga, sugu ni yamimashita. Tenki ga yoku natte, kankō ga tanoshimemashita.)
"When we arrived, it was raining, but it stopped soon. The weather got better, so we were able to enjoy sightseeing."

Try practicing this dialogue with a partner, substituting your own experiences or adding more details!

Cultural Note:
Japanese storytelling often emphasizes setting the scene (where, who, when) and describing the atmosphere before getting to the main events. Using the various forms learned in this lesson helps create the kind of rich narrative that Japanese listeners expect and appreciate.

Quick grammar reference

Want a focused, single-point recap of the grammar in this lesson? These reference pages explain each form on its own:

ている | Ongoing Actions and States in JapaneseIs doing ~, has done ~ (ongoing action or resulting state)て Form | Japanese Te-Form Conjugation and UsesConnecting form used for requests, linking actions, ongoing states

Lesson 11: Continuous Actions & States (～ています)

Expressing Ongoing Actions with ～ています

How to Form Present Continuous (～ています)

Uses of ～ています

1. Actions in Progress Now

2. Habitual or Regular Actions

3. Resultant States

Casual Contraction: ～てる

Describing Past Ongoing Actions (～ていました)

How to Form Past Continuous (～ていました)

Examples:

Using Past Continuous to Set a Scene

Expressing "When..." with ～ていたとき

Connecting Sequential Actions with て-Form

Basic Pattern

Present Tense Examples

Past Tense Examples

Connecting Multiple Actions

Using て-Form to Show Cause and Result

Expressing Past Existence (～がありました/いました)

How to Form Past Existence Expressions

Inanimate Examples (ありました):

Animate Examples (いました):

Describing Past Scenes

Expressing Reason or Cause with て-Form

Basic Pattern

Examples with Verbs

Examples with Adjectives and Nouns

Set Phrases with て-Form

Expressing Past Experiences (～たことがある)

How to Form Experience Expressions

Basic Examples:

Negative Form (Never done):

Question Form (Have you ever...?):

Using ～たことがある in Conversation

Putting It All Together: Telling a Story

Sample Narrative: A Day at the Park

Practice Dialogue: Talking About a Trip

Quick grammar reference

Ready to Practice This Lesson by Speaking?