Japanese Verbs on State Continuation
You have learned the 3 functions of Japanese verbs て-form + います (te-form + imasu)
In this lesson you will get to learn another function which is
state continuation.
In definition this is a certain continuing state which resulted from a certain action in the past.
Japanese verbs used for this function are verbs which describe changes that are more or less instantaneous.
This function is commonly used for
1) Appearance and
2) State.
Let's look at the following actions...
-
ほんをよんでいます。
hon wo yonde imasu
Meaning: reading book
-
テレビをみています。
terebi wo mite imasu
Meaning: watching tv
-
おんがくをきいています。
ongaku wo kiite imasu
Meaning: listening to music
The Japanese verbs used in the above actions normally require some times
and cannot be done instantly. Therefore the above actions become
progress actions.
However for the action of
"wearing" or きます (kimasu), if
you were to make て-form + います, normally this action finish instantly.
Therefore て-form + います is used to show the
result of the action, or the resulting state.
So for the following action...
-
せんせいはうわぎをきています。
sensei wa uwagi wo kite imasu
Meaning: Teacher is wearing a jacket.
The English definition is also the same. When you say "Teacher is
wearing a jacket", you are saying the appearance of the teacher which is
the
resulting state of the wearing action. You are actually
NOT saying the action of wearing the jacket.
Of course it can be progress action too. For example when you are changing your clothes in your room, you say...
-
いまふくをきています。
ima fuku wo kite imasu
Meaning: I am changing my clothes now. (progress action)
Other than the above situation, normally it is used for
appearance
(resulting state). For instance, someone is wearing a black dress,
someone is wearing necklace, someone is wearing glasses, etc.
Japanese Verbs used in Appearance Expressions
Usually in English you use the verb "wear" or "put on" for appearance,
regardless that you are wearing a hat, a pair of glasses, a shirt or a
trousers.
But in Japanese, depends on what you are wearing, you will need to use
different Japanese verbs. I will introduce some of them based on
different categories.
1. Upper Body (above waist)
| Dictionary form |
te-form + imasu |
Romaji |
| きる |
きています |
kite imasu |
Things which can be used with this Japanese verb...
-
シャツ (shatsu - shirt)
-
ブラウス (burausu - blouse)
-
ワンピース (wanpi-su - one-piece dress for women)
-
コート (ko-to - coat)
-
セーター (se-ta- - sweater)
-
うわぎ (uwagi - jacket)
-
スーツ (su-tsu - suit)
Example:
-
あにはセーターをきています。
ani wa se-ta- wo kite imasu
Meaning: My elder brother is wearing a sweater.
2. Bottom (below waist)
| Dictionary form |
te-form + imasu |
Romaji |
| はく |
はいています |
haite imasu |
Things which can be used with this Japanese verb...
-
ズボン (zubon - trousers)
-
スカート (suka-to - skirt)
-
くつ (kutsu - shoes)
-
くつした (kutsushita - sock)
Example:
-
ちちはあたらしいくつをはいています。
chichi wa atarashi kutsu wo haite imasu
Meaning: My father is wearing new shoes.
3. Top (on head)
| Dictionary form |
te-form + imasu |
Romaji |
| かぶる |
かぶっています |
kabutte imasu |
Thing which can be used with this verb...
Example:
-
いもうとはぼうしをかぶっています。
imouto wa boushi wo kabutte imasu
Meaning: My younger sister is wearing a hat.
4. Glasses
| Dictionary form |
te-form + imasu |
Romaji |
| かける |
かけています |
kakete imasu |
Thing which can be used with this verb...
Example:
-
せんせいはめがねをかけているひとです。
sensei wa megane wo kakete iru hito desu
Meaning: Teacher is the person who is wearing glasses.
5. Accessories
| Dictionary form |
te-form + imasu |
Romaji |
| する |
しています |
shite imasu |
Things which can be used with this Japanese verb...
-
とけい (tokei - watch)
-
ネックレス ( nekkuresu - necklace)
-
ゆびわ (yubiwa - ring)
-
ベルト (beruto - belt)
-
ネクタイ (nekutai - necktie)
Example:
-
はははちちからもらったとけいをしています。
haha wa chichi kara moratta tokei wo shite imasu
Meaning: My mother is wearing the watch given by my father.
6. Hold/Carry Something (or Possession)
| Dictionary form |
te-form + imasu |
Romaji |
| もつ |
もっています |
motte imasu |
Things which can be used with this Japanese verb...
-
かばん (kaban - bag)
-
ほん (hon - book)
-
かさ (kasa - umbrella)
-
anything you can hold or carry, etc
Example:
-
わたしはかさをもっています。
watashi wa kasa wo motte imasu
Meaning: I carry an umbrella / I have a umbrella.
Japanese Verbs て-form + います (te-form + imasu) for State
Another common use for Japanese verbs て-form + います (te-form + imasu) is when you are defining the
state.
For example when you say...
-
わたしはらいねんにほんにすみます。
watashi wa rainen nihon ni sumimasu
Meaning: Next year I will live in Japan.
But if you want to say that you are living in Japan now, you need to use て-form + います (te-form + imasu).
-
わたしはにほんにすんでいます。
watashi wa nihon ni sunde imasu
Meaning: I am living in Japan now.
Another good example is the explanation of marriage...
-
わたしはあしたけっこんします。
watashi wa ashita kekkonshimasu
Meaning: I will get married tomorrow.
-
わたしはきのうけっこんしました。
watashi wa kinou kekkonshimashita
Meaning: I got married yesterday.
Both the above 2 examples are one-time events which will happen or have
happened on that particular day. However if you want to stress the
state that you are now married, you will need to use て-form + います (te-form + imasu).
-
わたしはけっこんしています。
watashi wa kekkon shite imasu
Meaning: I am married (state).
Similarly, if you want to say someone is fat or slim
(state), you have to use て-form + います (te-form + imasu).
-
わたしはふとっています。
watashi wa futotte imasu
Meaning: I am fat.
-
わたしはやせています。
watashi wa yasete imasu
Meaning: I am slim.
