A door can be open now because it opened earlier. ている can describe that lasting result.
The idea
Make the verb’s て-form and add います (plain いる): 開く → 開いています. With change-of-state verbs, the change has happened and its result holds at the reference time. 結婚しています describes being married.
| Change | Resulting state |
|---|---|
| 開く | 開いています |
| 消える | 消えています |
| 結婚する | 結婚しています |
Examples
- ドアが開いています。The door is open.
- 窓が閉まっています。The window is closed.
- 電気が消えています。The light is off.
- 田中さんは結婚しています。Tanaka is married.
- 壁に絵が掛かっています。A picture hangs on the wall.
- 道が雪で覆われています。The road is covered with snow.
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Watch out
ている does not always mean an action is in progress: ドアが開いています usually describes an open door. With 読んでいます it can describe reading in progress. てある often highlights an intentional act and its result.
Try it yourself
ドアが＿＿います。（開く）
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開いて
開いて — 開く becomes 開いて; the door is now open.
電気が＿＿います。（消える）
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消えて
消えて — 消える becomes 消えて; the light is now off.
田中さんは＿＿います。（結婚する）
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結婚して
結婚して — する becomes して; the person is now married.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Japanese sentences where available. We keep your score.
ドアが＿＿います。（開く）
電気が＿＿います。（消える）
田中さんは＿＿います。（結婚する）
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Describe three things in your room as they are now, and identify the change that led to each state.