🟠 Using -고 있다 for Present Progressive | Intermediate Korean (TOPIK 3–4)

🟠 Using -고 있다 for Present Progressive (TOPIK 3–4)

Master how to describe ongoing actions in Korean using -고 있다. Perfect for intermediate learners preparing for TOPIK 3–4!

If you want to say “I’m studying,” “She’s eating,” or “We are traveling” in Korean, you need the pattern -고 있다. In this lesson, you’ll learn the form step by step, see natural example sentences, and practice with real-life situations.

🟠 Introduction

Have you ever wanted to say “I’m studying Korean right now” or “They are playing outside” in Korean? The present progressive form -고 있다 lets you describe what someone is doing at this moment.

In this lesson, we’ll learn:

How to build 동사 + -고 있다 step by step
Common verbs you can use with this pattern
Practice questions you can try in real conversations

📝 Key Korean Expressions

Here are some very useful -고 있다 expressions you’ll hear every day:

공부하고 있어요 (gongbu-hago isseoyo) – I am studying
먹고 있어요 (meok-go isseoyo) – I am eating
운동하고 있어요 (undong-hago isseoyo) – I am exercising
일하고 있어요 (il-hago isseoyo) – I am working
자고 있어요 (ja-go isseoyo) – I am sleeping

Tip: You can change the subject easily:
저는 공부하고 있어요. (I am studying.)
친구가 공부하고 있어요. (My friend is studying.)

📚 Grammar Explanation

The present progressive form in Korean is built with verb stem + -고 있다. It shows that an action is currently in progress.

Basic structure

Verb stem + -고 있다 → dictionary form
Verb stem + -고 있어요 → polite spoken form

Examples:

보다 → 보고 있다 →
영화를 보고 있어요.
Yeonghwareul bogo isseoyo.
I’m watching a movie.
읽다 → 읽고 있다 →
책을 읽고 있어요.
Chaegeul ilggo isseoyo.
I’m reading a book.
마시다 → 마시고 있다 →
커피를 마시고 있어요.
Keopireul masigo isseoyo.
I’m drinking coffee.

Negative form:

안 + V-고 있어요 → 지금 안 공부하고 있어요. (I’m not studying now.)
V-고 있지 않아요 → 한국에 살고 있지 않아요. (I’m not living in Korea.)

💬 Practice Sentences

Try reading these example sentences out loud. Then, change the subject or time to make your own.

저는 한국어를 배우고 있어요.
Jeoneun hangugeoreul baeugo isseoyo.
I’m learning Korean.
친구가 전화를 하고 있어요.
Chinguga jeonhwareul hago isseoyo.
My friend is on the phone.
아이들이 놀고 있어요.
Aideuri nolgo isseoyo.
The children are playing.
지금 뭐 하고 있어요?
Jigeum mwo hago isseoyo?
What are you doing now?
우리는 여행을 준비하고 있어요.
Urineun yeohaengeul junbihago isseoyo.
We are preparing for a trip.

Quick practice

“I’m watching YouTube” → 유튜브를 ______ 있어요.
“They are studying at the library” → 도서관에서 ______ 있어요.

🧠 Did You Know?

In Korean, -고 있다 can also express a continuous state, not only an action in progress.

입고 있다 → “wearing” (옷을 입고 있어요 = I’m wearing clothes.)
가지고 있다 → “having / owning” (책을 가지고 있어요 = I have a book.)

So 옷을 입고 있어요 usually means “I’m wearing clothes,” not “I’m putting on clothes” (for that, we often say 옷을 입는 중이에요).

💡 Final Thoughts

Understanding -고 있다 is essential for everyday conversations in Korean. It helps you say what you’re doing right now, which is super useful in small talk, chatting online, or writing a diary.

Try writing 3–5 sentences every day with -고 있다. For example, before bed, write what you’re doing:
지금 한국어를 공부하고 있어요.
지금 음악을 듣고 있어요.

Don’t aim for perfect Korean — aim for “I’m using Korean every day.” That’s how fluency starts.

🔗 Related Posts

🎓 Want to practice -고 있다 with real feedback?
Write 5 sentences about what you’re doing today, and I’ll correct them and upgrade them in a 1:1 lesson.

👉 Book a Korean class with me on italki and let’s make your Korean sound more natural and confident.

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Tags: Korean grammar, Korean progressive tense, Intermediate Korean, TOPIK 3-4, Korean study tips, -고 있다, 한국어 문법, 한국어 공부, 중급 한국어, aprender coreano, coreano para principiantes