-아/어 있다 in Korean: “is (in a resulting state)”

-아/어 있다 (-a/eo itda) means "to be in a state" that continues after an action is finished. 앉다 is "to sit down," and 앉아 있다 is "to be sitting." It is used with verbs that do not take an object, like 앉다, 서다, 열리다, and 남다.

How to form it

How to use it

Think of it as a snapshot of the result. Someone sat down, and now they are sitting: 앉아 있어요. The door was opened, and now it is open: 문이 열려 있어요.

It only works with verbs that have no object. For a door, use the passive verb 열리다 (be opened), not 열다 (to open something): 문이 열려 있어요. If you want to say someone left it open on purpose, use -아/어 놓다 instead.

For an older person, swap 있다 for 계시다: 할머니가 앉아 계세요 (Grandma is sitting). The ending of 있다 sets the politeness, as usual: 있어 (casual), 있어요 (polite).

Examples

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Don’t mix it up with

-고 있다: Describes an action in progress: 먹고 있어요 (I'm eating). -아/어 있다 describes the state after an action: 앉아 있어요 (I'm sitting).

-아/어 놓다: Used with verbs that take an object, to show someone did it on purpose: 문을 열어 놨어요 (I left the door open).

Common mistakes

Using it with a verb that takes an object. 문을 열어 있어요 is wrong; say 문이 열려 있어요 (the door is open) or 문을 열어 놨어요 (I left the door open).

Using it for clothes. Wearing is 입고 있다, not 입어 있다: 코트를 입고 있어요 (I'm wearing a coat).

Want the basics first? Read Saying "-ing" (-고 있다).