Translation guide
The English progressive form 'be ...-ing' has no single direct equivalent in Japanese. The most common way to express ongoing actions is with the ている form. However, Japanese uses different structures depending on whether the action is in progress, a resulting state, a habit, or a future plan. This guide covers the main patterns.
To describe an action that is happening right now.
The standard way to express an ongoing action. Attach ている to the て-form of a verb.
今、本を読んでいる。
I am reading a book now.
雨が降っている。
It is raining.
Emphasizes that the action is in the middle of happening right now. More explicit than plain ている.
今、出かけるところだ。
I am just about to go out.
ちょうど食べているところです。
I am in the middle of eating.
A formal, written pattern indicating a gradual change or ongoing process. Attach to the masu-stem of a verb.
経済は回復しつつある。
The economy is recovering.
To describe a state that exists as a result of a past action.
For verbs that express a change of state (e.g., 結婚する, 死ぬ, 開く), ている indicates the resulting state, not an ongoing action.
Indicates that a state exists because someone intentionally performed an action. Often used with transitive verbs.
壁に絵がかけてある。
A picture is hung on the wall.
机の上に本が置いてある。
A book is placed on the desk.
To describe an action that happens regularly or as a habit.
Can also express a habitual action, especially when combined with time expressions like 毎日 (every day).
毎日ジョギングをしている。
I go jogging every day.
彼はよくこの店に来ている。
He often comes to this shop.
The plain dictionary form can also express habitual actions, especially in written or formal contexts.
彼は毎朝新聞を読む。
He reads the newspaper every morning.
To talk about a planned future event, often with a sense of 'going to'.
Explicitly states a plan. Use after the dictionary form of a verb.
明日、映画を見に行く予定だ。
I am going to see a movie tomorrow.
Expresses intention. Similar to 'plan to' or 'intend to'.
来年、日本に行くつもりだ。
I am going to Japan next year.
Indicates that something has been decided or arranged, often by someone else or by circumstances.
会議は来週行われることになっている。
The meeting is going to be held next week.
To express that something is being done to the subject.
The passive form of ている. Used when the subject is receiving the action.
新しいビルが建てられている。
A new building is being built.
English uses 'be ...-ing' for temporary states (e.g., 'I am living in Tokyo'), but Japanese often uses the plain form or 住んでいる for living situations. Using ている for stative verbs like ある or いる is incorrect.
東京に住んでいる。
I live in Tokyo. (Not 'I am living')
Both can describe a resulting state, but てある implies someone intentionally caused the state, while ている simply describes the state. Compare: 窓が開いている (The window is open) vs. 窓が開けてある (The window has been left open).