G17 · Ongoing: 〜て います

Before you start

The sentences only use words you already know from hiragana, katakana and the beginner level.

This lesson assumes what you saw in the earlier ones. If something feels shaky, go back to it:

• G01build sentences with は and です
• G02ask and answer
• G03say what something is not
• G04say whose something is
• G05point at things and ask what they are
• G06say «also»
• G07say what you do
• G08say no and talk about the past
• G09say where you go
• G10say where you do something
• G11describe things and say they aren't
• G12describe with な-adjectives and before a noun
• G13say what there is and where
• G14ask and say where something is
• G15talk about what was
• G16ask politely

What you learn

〜て います

• いますbe doing

The て-form + います expresses an ongoing action: いま ほんを よんで います (I'm reading a book now). Don't confuse this います with «there is» (G13): here it follows a verb in the て-form.

• いま ほんを よんで います。ima hon o yonde imasu.I'm reading a book now.
• ともだちは テレビを みて います。tomodachi wa terebi o mite imasu.My friend is watching TV.
• いま ごはんを たべて います。ima gohan o tabete imasu.I'm eating now.
• せんせいは でんわを して います。sensei wa denwa o shite imasu.The teacher is on the phone.
• こうえんで さんぽを して います。kouen de sanpo o shite imasu.I'm taking a walk in the park.
• おんがくを きいて います。ongaku o kiite imasu.I'm listening to music.

Practice

A short text written only with the kana and grammar you already know. Read it and answer.