JLPT N5 grammar
～ています — Meaning & Examples
Ongoing action (I am eating) or current state (I am married, I live in ~). Essential for describing what is happening right now or a lasting situation.
～ています — Current State and Ongoing Actions
～ています (te imasu) is one of the most important grammar patterns — it describes ongoing actions and current states.
Ongoing action (like English "-ing"):
なにを していますか？ — What are you doing?
にほんごを べんきょうしています。 — I am studying Japanese.
テレビを みています。 — I am watching TV.
Current state (result of past action):
～ています also describes a state that exists as a result of something that happened:
けっこんしています。 — I am married. (= got married and am now in that state)
にほんに すんでいます。 — I live in Japan. (= moved there and am now there)
しっています。 — I know. (= learned it and now know it)
きています。 — I am wearing (clothes). (= put them on)
Negative ～ていません:
まだ たべていません。 — I haven't eaten yet.
まだ けっこんしていません。 — I am not yet married.
The distinction:
たべます = I eat (general) / I will eat (future)
たべています = I am eating (right now)
This is exactly parallel to English "eat" vs "am eating."
Practice questions
Try these 2 questions on ～ています. Pick an answer in your head, then open “Show answer”.
1. にほんごを べんきょうしています (nihongo o benkyō shite imasu) means?
- I studied Japanese
- I will study Japanese
- I don't study Japanese
- I am (currently) studying Japanese
Show answer
Answer: I am (currently) studying Japanese
〜ています describes an ongoing action, like English "-ing": べんきょうしています = I am (right now) studying. Compare with べんきょうします which means "I study" (habit) or "I will study" (future).
2. しっています (shitte imasu) means?
- I knew
- I don't know
- I will know
- I know
Show answer
Answer: I know
しる (to know) → しっています = I know. Here 〜ています describes a CURRENT STATE resulting from a past action (having learned something), not just an ongoing action like たべています (am eating).
Practise ～ています in the free app
This point is part of the “Negative, Past and て-Form” lesson in A Star Japanese. Study it with examples, a quiz, flashcards and timed JLPT N5 mock exams. Free on iPhone and Android.
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Related N5 grammar points
From the same lesson: Negative, Past and て-Form
Frequently asked questions
What does ～ています mean?
Ongoing action (I am eating) or current state (I am married, I live in ~). Essential for describing what is happening right now or a lasting situation.
Is ～ています on the JLPT N5 test?
～ています is taught in the JLPT N5 grammar course in A Star Japanese (lesson “Negative, Past and て-Form”), so it is a pattern learners at this level are expected to recognise. The JLPT does not publish an official grammar list, so treat this as a study guide rather than an official requirement.
How can I practise ～ています?
Open the “Negative, Past and て-Form” lesson in the free A Star Japanese app for iPhone and Android. It has examples, a quiz after every lesson, flashcards with spaced repetition and timed JLPT N5 mock exams, with no ads.