Japanese grammar · ≈ JLPT N5 · Beginner 1
〜ています~te imasu
action in progress
Use 「〜ています」 for an action happening now; the action is still underway.
How it works
Look at the action in the pot: cooking has started and is still happening. 「今」 on the timeline falls within that action.
To describe an action happening now, add 「います」 directly to the verb’s て形 you have learned.
The て形 is 「飲んで」. Keep 「で」 when adding います: 飲んでいます。
To ask what someone is doing now, use 「今、何をしていますか」. Look at the cooking picture and try answering.
「います」 can tell us where a person is. Here, 「います」 after a verb’s て形 shows that an action is in progress.
In the example, 「ご飯を作っています」 means the meal is being cooked now. The cooking is still underway; it does not mean the meal is already ready.
「食べています」 already means “is eating.” Even without 「今」, the sentence can describe an action happening now.
Example sentences
- ご飯gohanをo作っtsukuてteいます。imasu
I'm cooking a meal.
- 友達tomodachiとto一緒issho
In a conversation
- A今、何をしていますか。
A: What are you doing now?
- B今日の料理を作って
Check yourself
Level 1 · Recognise
Which sentence is correct?
Level 1 · Recognise
Listen and choose the meaning
Level 2 · Build
Put the words in order
I am cooking today's meal.
Level 3 · Use
What goes in the blank?
リーさんはテニスを 。
Mr. Lee is playing tennis.
More grammar in this theme
- 〜ていますaction in progress
