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Look at the action in the pot: cooking has started and is still happening. 「今」 on the timeline falls within that action.

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Lesson notes · ≈ 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

  1. Look at the action in the pot: cooking has started and is still happening. 「今」 on the timeline falls within that action.

    Look at the action in the pot: cooking has started and is still happening. 「今」 on the timeline falls within that action.

  2. To describe an action happening now, add 「います」 directly to the verb’s て形 you have learned.

    To describe an action happening now, add 「います」 directly to the verb’s て形 you have learned.

  3. The て形 is 「飲んで」. Keep 「で」 when adding います: 飲んでいます。

    The て形 is 「飲んで」. Keep 「で」 when adding います: 飲んでいます。

  4. 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.

    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.

  5. 「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.

    「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.

  6. 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.

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.

    「食べています」 already means “is eating.” Even without 「今」, the sentence can describe an action happening now.

    • Example sentences

    • ご飯ごはんgohanをo作っつくっtsukuてteいます。いますimasu

      I'm cooking a meal.

    • 友達ともだちtomodachiとto一緒いっしょisshoにniご飯ごはんgohanをo食べたべtabeてteいます。いますimasu

      I'm eating with a friend.

    In a conversation

    • A
      今、いま何なにをしていますか。か

      A: What are you doing now?

    • B
      今日きょうの料理りょうりを作っつくっています。います

      B: I'm making today's dish.

    • A
      田中さんたなかさんはわ何なにをしていますか。か

      A: What is Mr. Tanaka doing?

    • B
      田中さんたなかさんはわジュースじゅーすを飲んのんでいます。います

      B: Mr. Tanaka is drinking juice.

    • A
      山田さんやまださんはわ何なにをしていますか。か

      A: What is Mr. Yamada doing?

    • B
      山田さんやまださんはわサラダさらだを作っつくって

    Check yourself

    1. Level 1 · Recognise

      Which sentence is correct?

    2. Level 1 · Recognise

      Listen and choose the meaning

    3. Level 2 · Build

      Put the words in order

      I am cooking today's meal.

    4. 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

    • 〜は〜にありますwhere an object is located
    • 〜は〜にいますwhere a person or animal is
    • 〜に〜があります／いますwhat is present at a place
    • 〜てくださいpolite request to do
    • 〜で〜ますtool or means used
    • 〜方way to do something
    • どの〜／どれwhich one or which item
    • 〜ていますaction in progress
    • 〜ましょうかoffer or suggestion
    • まだあります／もうありませんstill left or all gone
    • 誰が〜ますかask who does it
    Previousどの〜／どれNext〜ましょうか

    Keep practising

    Test your Japanese vocabulary12 adaptive questions, freeCheck your pronunciationRead aloud and get a scorePractise verb forms10-question conjugation quizSee the whole courseGrammar, vocabulary and quizzes by theme
    See the whole course
    Beginner 1
    Directions & Requests
    います。います
    リーさんりーさん
    はわ
    テニスてにす
    の
    練習れんしゅう
    を
    し
    て
    います。います

    B: Mr. Yamada is making salad. Li is practicing tennis.