Day 26 Lesson 1 - Grammar Video

Today we introduce another use of 「ています」besides the progressive meaning. 

Similar to the English present perfect tense, 「てい ます」 is used to express the state where some result of past action(s) or the change of state that remains until now. This usage is very common especially when the action itself (or the change) expressed by the verb is momentary. 

「たなかさんに タブレットを かしています」(as a result, the tablet is not here).

「ちちは いま かいものに でかけています」(Father is not at home.)

In the examples in the video lesson that follows, 「けっこんしています」 is an obvious change of state since as it is in English because you got married, your state is described as married.

However, as to the other verbs, it can be slightly different.「しります」is a verb expressing the change of state from unawareness to awareness, “to get to know”. A result of 「しりました」, someone knows something. So when describing the state of awareness of something, 「しっています」should be used.

The original meaning of「もちます」 is “to hold something (in the hands)”. However in the case of 「もっています」the result expression implies “something is still in his/her hand(s)”. However, this usage also extends to general possession of something like 「PC を 2 だい も っています」, in this meaning 「もっています」become an equivalent to the English meaning  “to have”.

One other verb usage which sometimes confuses people is「すんでいます」at this stage of your studies, you can assume that it is the Japanese equivalent to “he lives/he is living” is 「すんでいます」.