-고 있다 vs -아/어 있다

Understanding the difference between -고 있다 and -아/어 있다 is crucial for natural Korean. Though both can translate as "be -ing" in English, they express fundamentally different concepts: ongoing action vs. resultant state.

Core Distinction

-고 있다: Action In Progress

Focus on the ongoing action:

• Emphasizes that the action is currently happening
• The process is ongoing
• Duration of the action itself

-아/어 있다: Resultant State

Focus on the state after action:

• Emphasizes the resulting condition
• The action is complete, state remains
• Maintenance of the achieved state

Side-by-Side Comparison

Concept	-고 있다	-아/어 있다
Meaning	Be doing (action)	Be in state (result)
Focus	Process	Result
Action	Ongoing	Completed
Time	During action	After action
English	Be -ing (process)	Be -ed (state)

Key Verb Pairs

1. 앉다 (To sit)

-고 있다: Sitting down (action)

• 앉고 있어요
  (Am sitting down - in the process of taking a seat)

-아/어 있다: Be seated (state)

• 앉아 있어요
  (Be sitting - already seated, in sitting position)

Difference:

• 앉고 있어요: Focus on the act of lowering yourself onto a seat
• 앉아 있어요: Focus on being in a seated position

2. 서다 (To stand)

-고 있다: Standing up (action)

• 서고 있어요
  (Am standing up - in the process of rising)

-아/어 있다: Be standing (state)

• 서 있어요
  (Be standing - already in standing position)

3. 입다 (To wear/put on)

-고 있다: Putting on (action)

• 입고 있어요
  (Am putting on clothes - action of getting dressed)

-아/어 있다: Be wearing (state)

• 입어 있어요
  (Be wearing - have clothes on)

Examples:

• 지금 옷을 입고 있어요 (I'm getting dressed right now)
• 예쁜 옷을 입어 있어요 (You're wearing pretty clothes)

4. 열다 (To open)

-고 있다: Opening (action)

• 문을 열고 있어요
  (Am opening the door - in the process)

-아/어 있다: Be open (state)

• 문이 열어 있어요
  (Door is open - in open state)

5. 닫다 (To close)

-고 있다: Closing (action)

• 문을 닫고 있어요
  (Am closing the door - in the process)

-아/어 있다: Be closed (state)

• 문이 닫혀 있어요
  (Door is closed - in closed state)

Verbs That Commonly Use Each Pattern

Primarily -고 있다 Verbs

Action verbs without clear resultant states:

• 먹다 → 먹고 있어요 (be eating)
• 자다 → 자고 있어요 (be sleeping)
• 공부하다 → 공부하고 있어요 (be studying)
• 일하다 → 일하고 있어요 (be working)
• 걷다 → 걷고 있어요 (be walking)
• 달리다 → 달리고 있어요 (be running)
• 읽다 → 읽고 있어요 (be reading)
• 쓰다 → 쓰고 있어요 (be writing)
• 듣다 → 듣고 있어요 (be listening)

Primarily -아/어 있다 Verbs

Verbs with clear resultant states:

• 앉다 → 앉아 있어요 (be sitting)
• 서다 → 서 있어요 (be standing)
• 눕다 → 누워 있어요 (be lying)
• 입다 → 입어 있어요 (be wearing)
• 쓰다 (wear) → 쓰고 있어요 (be wearing)
• 신다 → 신고 있어요 (be wearing shoes)
• 열리다 → 열어 있어요 (be open)
• 닫히다 → 닫혀 있어요 (be closed)

Verbs That Use BOTH

Meaning changes based on pattern:

Verb	-고 있다 (Action)	-아/어 있다 (State)
앉다	앉고 있어요 (sitting down)	앉아 있어요 (be seated)
서다	서고 있어요 (standing up)	서 있어요 (be standing)
입다	입고 있어요 (putting on)	입어 있어요 (be wearing)
열다	열고 있어요 (opening)	열어 있어요 (be open)
놓다	놓고 있어요 (placing)	놓여 있어요 (be placed)

Practical Examples

Example Set 1: Sitting

Scenario 1: Someone in the middle of sitting down

• A: 뭐 해요?
  (What are you doing?)

• B: 앉고 있어요.
  (I'm sitting down - in the process)

Scenario 2: Someone already seated

• A: 왜 거기 있어요?
  (Why are you there?)

• B: 여기 앉아 있어요.
  (I'm sitting here - in seated position)

Example Set 2: Door State

Opening the door (action):

• 지금 문을 열고 있어요
  (I'm opening the door right now - action in progress)

Door is open (state):

• 문이 열어 있어요
  (The door is open - state)

Example Set 3: Wearing Clothes

Getting dressed (action):

• 아침에 옷을 입고 있어요
  (I'm getting dressed in the morning - action)

Wearing clothes (state):

• 예쁜 드레스를 입어 있어요
  (She's wearing a pretty dress - state)

Common Confusions

English "Be -ing" Ambiguity

English "I'm sitting" can mean both:

1. Process: I'm sitting down (앉고 있어요)
2. State: I'm seated (앉아 있어요)

Korean distinguishes these clearly:

• 앉고 있어요 = Process of sitting down
• 앉아 있어요 = Being in a seated position

When English Uses Only One Form

English: "The door is open"

Korean has two options:

1. 문이 열고 있어요 (Someone is opening it - action)
2. 문이 열어 있어요 (It is in open state - state)

Most commonly: 문이 열어 있어요 (state)

Usage Guidelines

Use -고 있다 When:

✅ Describing an action currently in progress

• 지금 공부하고 있어요 (I'm studying now)

✅ The action is temporary and ongoing

• 밥 먹고 있어요 (I'm eating)

✅ You want to emphasize the process

• 운동하고 있어요 (I'm exercising)

Use -아/어 있다 When:

✅ Describing a maintained position

• 의자에 앉아 있어요 (I'm sitting on a chair)

✅ Something is in a particular state

• 문이 열어 있어요 (Door is open)

✅ Wearing or carrying something

• 모자를 쓰고 있어요 (Wearing a hat)

✅ Information is recorded

• 이름이 쓰여 있어요 (Name is written)

Question Forms Comparison

Asking About Actions (-고 있다)

뭐 하고 있어요?
(What are you doing?)

• 공부하고 있어요 (I'm studying)
• 밥 먹고 있어요 (I'm eating)

Asking About States (-아/어 있다)

어디 있어요?
(Where are you?)

• 여기 앉아 있어요 (I'm sitting here)
• 거기 서 있어요 (I'm standing there)

Negation Comparison

-고 있다 Negative

Not doing the action:

• 안 먹고 있어요 (am not eating)
• 공부하지 않고 있어요 (am not studying)

-아/어 있다 Negative

Not in that state:

• 안 앉아 있어요 (am not sitting)
• 안 서 있어요 (am not standing)

Contextual Examples

At Work

-고 있다 (Actions):

• 회의하고 있어요 (Am in a meeting)
• 보고서 쓰고 있어요 (Am writing a report)
• 전화하고 있어요 (Am on the phone)

-아/어 있다 (States):

• 사무실에 앉아 있어요 (Am sitting in office)
• 자리에 서 있어요 (Am standing at my spot)

At Home

-고 있다 (Actions):

• 요리하고 있어요 (Am cooking)
• 청소하고 있어요 (Am cleaning)
• TV 보고 있어요 (Am watching TV)

-아/어 있다 (States):

• 소파에 앉아 있어요 (Am sitting on sofa)
• 침대에 누워 있어요 (Am lying on bed)
• 옷을 입어 있어요 (Am dressed)

Common Mistakes

❌ Incorrect: 의자에 앉고 있어요 (when meaning "be seated")

Using action form for state

✅ Correct: 의자에 앉아 있어요

Use state form for being seated

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❌ Incorrect: 옷을 입어 있어요 (when actively getting dressed)

Using state form for action

✅ Correct: 옷을 입고 있어요

Use action form for putting on clothes

---

❌ Incorrect: 공부해 있어요

Using -아/어 있다 with action-only verbs

✅ Correct: 공부하고 있어요

Use -고 있다 with action verbs that don't result in states

Quick Reference Chart

English	-고 있다	-아/어 있다
Sitting down	앉고 있어요	❌
Be seated	❌	앉아 있어요
Putting on	입고 있어요	❌
Be wearing	❌	입어 있어요
Opening	열고 있어요	❌
Be open	❌	열어 있어요
Standing up	서고 있어요	❌
Be standing	❌	서 있어요
Eating	먹고 있어요	❌
Studying	공부하고 있어요	❌

Memory Tips

Think of it this way:

-고 있다: "What are you DOING?"

• Answers describe actions in progress
• Focus on the activity

-아/어 있다: "What STATE are you in?"

• Answers describe conditions/positions
• Focus on the result

Time Focus:

-고 있다: DURING the action

• 지금 먹고 있어요 (eating right now)

-아/어 있다: AFTER the action

• 옷을 입어 있어요 (clothes are on - already dressed)

Key Takeaways

• ✅ -고 있다: Ongoing action, process, temporary activity
• ✅ -아/어 있다: Resultant state, maintained condition
• ✅ Not interchangeable: Different meanings entirely
• ✅ Verb-dependent: Some verbs only use one pattern
• ✅ Context matters: Same verb can use both with different meanings
• ✅ English ambiguous: Korean makes clear distinction

Mastering this distinction is essential for natural Korean. Pay attention to whether you're describing an action in progress or a state that remains after an action. With practice, choosing the right pattern becomes intuitive.