Language/Korean/Grammar/Progressive-Tense
◀️ Future Tense — Previous Lesson | Next Lesson — Travel Vocabulary ▶️ |
As a beginner in learning Korean language, you might have got a hang of using different verb tenses, such as past tense and future tense. But what about actions that are ongoing? In this lesson, we will learn how to form and use the progressive tense in Korean, also known as the continuous tense. This tense is formed by combining a verb stem and the verb "고 있다" (go itda), which means "to be doing".
Consider broadening your understanding by checking out these related lessons: Korean Pronunciation & Plurals.
Forming Progressive Tense Verbs
To form the progressive tense, first, we need to find the verb stem. For verbs ending in a vowel, we simply add the vowel "ㅣ" (i) before "고 있다" (go itda). For example:
- 가다 (gada) - to go
* 가 + 고 있다 = 가고 있다 (gago itda) - to be going
- 먹다 (meokda) - to eat
* 먹 + 고 있다 = 먹고 있다 (meokgo itda) - to be eating
For verbs that end with a consonant, we add "으" (eu) before "고 있다" (go itda). For example:
- 사다 (sada) - to buy
* 사 + 고 있다 = 사고 있다 (sago itda) - to be buying
- 쓰다 (sseuda) - to write
* 쓰 + 고 있다 = 쓰고 있다 (sseugo itda) - to be writing
Using Progressive Tense in Sentences
Once you have formed the progressive tense verbs, you can use them in sentences to describe ongoing actions. Here are some examples:
- 저는 책을 읽고 있어요. (Jeoneun chaekeul ilggo isseoyo.) - I am reading a book.
- 지금 밥을 먹고 있어요. (Jigeum bab-eul meokgo isseoyo.) - I am eating lunch now.
- 그들은 영화를 보고 있어요. (Geudeureun yeonghwaleul bogo isseoyo.) - They are watching a movie.
Notice that the subject marker "은/는" (eun/neun) is added after the subject, and the object marker "을/를" (eul/reul) is added after the object. Then, the progressive tense verb is added after the object marker.
Irregular Verbs
There are a few irregular verbs when it comes to forming the progressive tense. They are:
- 오다 (oda) - to come
* 와 + 고 있다 = 와고 있다 (wago itda) - to be coming
- 있다 (itda) - to exist, to be
* 있 + 고 있다 = 있고 있다 (itgo itda) - to be in a state of existence
- 없다 (eomneunda) - to not exist, to not have
* 없 + 고 있다 = 없고 있다 (eopgo itda) - to not have
Exceptions
There are some cases where the progressive tense is not used, such as when talking about habitual actions or actions that take only a short time to complete. In those cases, we use the simple present tense instead.
Summary
Congratulations! Now you know how to form and use the progressive tense in Korean! You have learned how to find the verb stem and add "고 있다" to form this tense. You also learned about irregular verbs and when to use the simple present tense instead of the progressive tense. Keep practicing to get more comfortable using this tense in your day-to-day conversations.
Sources
Videos
Korean Grammar - Present Progressive Tense - YouTube
Present Progressive in Korean (verb + ing : -는 중이에요) - YouTube
Other Lessons
- Describing People
- Questions
- Conditional Sentences
- Connectors
- How to Use Have
- Connecting Verbs
- Conditional Mood
- Nouns
- Subject and Object Markers
◀️ Future Tense — Previous Lesson | Next Lesson — Travel Vocabulary ▶️ |