Korean grammar · Level 3 · 3급
V-아/어 있다
A state that stays
-아/어 있다 describes the state something is in after a change: the window opened, and now it's open — 열려 있어요. It goes with passive verbs and with verbs like 앉다, 서다, 오다 and 떨어지다. Don't confuse it with -고 있다, an action in progress. Wearing verbs (입다, 쓰다, 신다) are the odd ones out: they use -고 있다 even for the state of wearing. For someone you respect, 있다 becomes 계시다: 앉아 계세요.
| When | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| passive verbs | -아/어 있다 | 열려 있다 · 닫혀 있다 · 놓여 있다 |
| sitting, standing, falling … | -아/어 있다 | 앉아 있다 · 서 있다 · 떨어져 있다 |
| wearing | -고 있다 | 모자를 쓰고 있다 · 코트를 입고 있다 |
Examples
창문이 열려 있었어요.
The window was open.
소리쌤은 나뭇가지에 앉아 계세요.
Sori-ssaem is sitting on a branch.
가방 안에 지갑이 들어 있어요.
There's a wallet in the bag.
Practise it in context · Level 3, Unit 8
The window was left open
A dialogue with audio, practice that checks itself, Hoya’s mistakes, a reading and a writing task.
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