아/어 있다

Description

Verb + 아/어 있다 and Verb + 아/어 계시다 : This pattern expresses the existence of a state or a fact, the continuation of an action after it is done. For example, when you sit, you remain seated or when you stand, you remain standing. Must be distinguished from V + 고 있다 which is used to express a continuing action or a process. Only intransitive verbs can be this form. For example, 먹어 있다 is wrong because 먹다 is a transitive verb.

Notes

• The honorific form is Verb + 아/어 계시다

Conjugation Rule

Conjugation Rule

	Pattern	Case	Example
Rule 1:		If there is no 받침 or if the adjective/verb stem has ㄹ as a 받침
Rule 2:		If there is a 받침 at the end of the adjective/verb stem

Sentence Examples

Korean	English	Notes
"언니는 지금 앉아 있어."	"My sister is sitting."
"물고기가 아직 살아 있어."	"The fish is still alive."
"책이 책상에 놓여있어요."	"The book is on the table."
"동생은 지금 누워 있다."	"My sister is laying down."
"오늘 하루종일 서 있었어."	"Today I had to stand all day."

See Also

• V + 고 있다