KOREAN LEVEL UP › Korean grammar › -고 있다
Korean Grammar “-고 있다”: Meaning and Usage (TOPIK 2)
How to attach it
Attach the pattern to the verb stem, which is the dictionary form without 다. Compare how each verb below changes depending on its last sound.
| Dictionary form | Meaning | With this pattern | Romanization |
|---|---|---|---|
| 보다 | to see, to watch | 보고 있다 | bogo itda |
| 읽다 | to read | 읽고 있다 | ikgo itda |
| 하다 | to do | 하고 있다 | hago itda |
| 살다 | to live | 살고 있다 | salgo itda |
What changes
- This ending attaches directly to the stem. Nothing changes, whether the stem ends in a vowel or a consonant.
Explanation
지금 친구를 기다리고 있어요.
“-고 있다” shows that an action is in progress, like “be ~ing,” and attaches directly to a verb stem. The sentence means “I’m waiting for my friend right now.” Other endings such as -아/어서 or -(으)면 cannot create the progressive meaning.
Pronouncing the example sentence
Example sentence: 지금 친구를 기다리고 있어요.
In natural speech, sounds link and shift across words. The table below reads each word separately, as it sounds when said on its own.
| Syllable | Letters (consonant + vowel + final) | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| 지금 | ||
| 지 | ㅈ+ㅣ | ji |
| 금 | ㄱ+ㅡ+ㅁ | geum |
| 친구를 | ||
| 친 | ㅊ+ㅣ+ㄴ | chin |
| 구 | ㄱ+ㅜ | gu |
| 를 | ㄹ+ㅡ+ㄹ | reul |
| 기다리고 | ||
| 기 | ㄱ+ㅣ | gi |
| 다 | ㄷ+ㅏ | da |
| 리 | ㄹ+ㅣ | ri |
| 고 | ㄱ+ㅗ | go |
| 있어요 | ||
| 있 | ㅇ+ㅣ+ㅆ | [이] i |
| 어 | ㅇ+ㅓ | [써] sseo |
| 요 | ㅇ+ㅛ | yo |
A ㅇ at the start of a syllable is silent; at the end of a syllable it sounds like “ng”.
Sound changes in this phrase
- Linking: when a syllable ending in a consonant (patchim) is followed by a syllable that starts with a vowel, the consonant moves over to the next syllable. 있어 → [이써]
Politeness level of the example
Ends in -요. The everyday polite style, and a safe choice with shop staff, colleagues, strangers and anyone older than you.
Words in the example sentence
These words from the TOPIK vocabulary lists appear in the phrase (shown in dictionary form).
| Korean | Part of speech | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 지금 | noun | now | TOPIK level 1 |
| 있다 | verb | to exist, to have | TOPIK level 1 |
Practice
Test yourself before you move on. Tap an answer.
Question 1 Choose the word that fits the blank: 지금 친구를 기다리____ 있어요.
Show the answer
Answer: 지금 친구를 기다리고 있어요.
More grammar at this level
Learn this phrase by playing: typing drills and quizzes help it stick.
Practice in the gameRead this page in: 日本語 简体中文 繁體中文 Tiếng Việt Bahasa Indonesia Oʻzbekcha Монгол Français Español (México) ไทย