2 · Tense and aspect
The progressive -고 있다
the continuous aspect
Stem plus -고 있어요 for an action under way: 먹고 있어요, "I am eating".
-고 있다 attaches to the stem of any action verb with no vowel rule: 먹고 있어요, 가고 있어요, 공부하고 있어요. Only 있다 is conjugated, so tense and politeness go there: 하고 있었어요 (was doing), 하고 있습니다 (formal), 하고 있을 거예요 (will be doing, or is probably doing). For someone you respect, 있다 becomes 계시다: 선생님은 지금 수업하고 계세요.
It describes an action in progress, now or at another point in time. But Korean uses it much less than English uses "-ing", because the plain present already covers a great deal of what English says with a progressive. 지금 뭐 해요? is a normal "what are you doing now?", and 밥 먹어요 answers it. -고 있다 is chosen when the ongoing nature matters — something is happening right now and is not finished — or for a longer process: 요즘 한국어를 배우고 있어요, "I am learning Korean these days".
It only works with action verbs. Adjectives describe states and have no progressive: "it is being cold" does not exist, and 추워요 is all you need. Nor does Korean use it for arrangements: "I am meeting a friend tomorrow" is 내일 친구를 만나요 or 만날 거예요, never a form with -고 있다.
With verbs of putting on clothes — 입다 (clothes), 신다 (shoes, socks), 쓰다 (a hat, glasses), 끼다 (gloves, a ring), 매다 (a tie) — -고 있다 can mean the act of putting on or the state of wearing. 빨간 코트를 입고 있어요 is normally "she is wearing a red coat", and this is the usual way to describe what someone has on.
The form
| present | 먹고 있어요 |
| past | 먹고 있었어요 |
| formal | 먹고 있습니다 |
| honorific | 드시고 계세요 |
| negative | 안 먹고 있어요 / 먹고 있지 않아요 |
| wearing | 안경을 쓰고 있어요 |
The rules one by one
The form this topic is aboutThe word that calls for it
-고 goes straight onto the stem, and only 있다 changes.
지금 밥을 먹고 있어요.I am eating right now.
Put the past on 있다 for an action that was under way.
그때 저는 샤워하고 있었어요.I was having a shower at the time.
For a longer process, it describes what is going on in your life at the moment.
요즘 운전을 배우고 있어요.I am learning to drive at the moment.
For someone you respect, 있다 becomes 계시다.
할머니는 방에서 주무시고 계세요.Grandmother is sleeping in her room.
With verbs of putting on, it describes what someone is wearing.
민지 씨는 하얀 셔츠를 입고 있어요.Minji is wearing a white shirt.
A closer look
When the plain present is enough
An English speaker hears "-ing" everywhere and wants -고 있다 everywhere. Korean speakers use it more sparingly. Asked 지금 어디 가요? (where are you going?), the natural answer is 집에 가요, not 집에 가고 있어요 — although the second is not wrong if you want to stress that you are on your way.
Where the progressive really earns its place is when two things overlap — 제가 요리하고 있을 때 친구가 왔어요, "a friend came while I was cooking" — and when you describe a process that stretches over weeks or months: 요즘 집을 찾고 있어요, "I am looking for a flat at the moment".
Exceptions and special cases (1)
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the verb is 알다 (to know)
알고 있어요 is not "I am knowing" but a slightly emphatic "I know", "I am aware".
그 소식은 저도 알고 있어요.I know about that news too.
Korean treats knowing as a state that continues, and -고 있다 stresses that the knowledge is already there. It is often the more natural answer to "did you know?": 네, 알고 있어요.
How to spot it
- 지금
- 요즘
- 그때
- -고 있다
- -고 계시다
Example sentences
지금 뭐 하고 있어요?What are you doing right now?
동생은 방에서 게임을 하고 있어요.My younger brother is playing a game in his room.
전화했을 때 저는 자고 있었어요.I was asleep when you called.
요즘 회사에서 새 프로젝트를 준비하고 있어요.These days I'm preparing a new project at work.
밖에 눈이 오고 있어요.It is snowing outside.
저기 모자를 쓰고 있는 사람이 제 친구예요.The person over there wearing a hat is my friend.
8 more example sentences
아이들이 공원에서 놀고 있어요.The children are playing in the park.
요즘 어떤 책을 읽고 있어요?What book are you reading at the moment?
어제 이 시간에 뭐 하고 있었어요?What were you doing at this time yesterday?
사장님은 지금 회의하고 계십니다.The director is in a meeting at the moment.
저는 서울에서 혼자 살고 있어요.I am living on my own in Seoul.
그 사람은 검은색 구두를 신고 있었어요.He was wearing black shoes.
물가가 계속 오르고 있습니다.Prices continue to rise.
기차가 지금 역에 들어오고 있어요.The train is coming into the station now.
Worth knowing (1)
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Wearing, and putting on
In the right context 코트를 입고 있어요 can also mean "she is putting her coat on", but on its own it is the state of wearing. There is no other form for that state: Korean does not use 입어 있다, because 입다 takes an object.
오늘 아침에는 장갑을 끼고 있었어요.This morning I was wearing gloves.
The trap English speakers fall into
Watch out
English uses "-ing" for arrangements in the future; Korean does not. -고 있다 is only ever about something under way at the time spoken of. For plans, use the plain present or 만날 거예요.
Go itda is for what is under way — not for plans, and never for adjectives.
Your turn
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