State of being

The pattern -아/어 있다 is used to describe a state that continues as a result of a completed action. It focuses on the lasting result, not the action itself.

Meaning & Usage

Meaning: It translates to "is in a state of..." or can be expressed with a simple present tense verb in English, like "The door is open."

When to use: Use it to describe the status of objects or the posture of people. For example, you see a door that someone opened earlier, and it remains open. The action of opening is finished, but the state of being open continues.

Formation

This pattern attaches to a verb stem, followed by 있다.

-아 있다: For verb stems ending in the vowel ㅏ or ㅗ.

앉다 (to sit) → 앉아 있다

남다 (to remain) → 남아 있다

-어 있다: For all other verb stems.

서다 (to stand) → 서 있다

열리다 (to be opened) → 열려 있다

눕다 (to lie down) → 누워 있다 (ㅂ irregular)

-여 있다 / -해 있다: For 하다 verbs, though it's more common with passive verbs.

피다 (to bloom) → 피어 있다 (often contracted to 펴 있다)

문이 열려 있어. / 꽃이 피어 있어요. / 피자가 남아 있어요.

A common point of confusion for learners is the difference between -아/어 있다 and -고 있다. The key is distinguishing between a continuing state and an ongoing action.

-아/어 있다 (State): Describes the result of a completed action that is being maintained. The action itself is finished.

의자에 앉아 있어요. (I am sitting in the chair.)

The action of sitting down is complete. You are now in the state of being seated.

-고 있다 (Action): Describes an action that is currently in progress. The movement is happening right now.

의자에 앉고 있어요. (I am in the process of sitting down.)

Your body is currently moving from a standing to a sitting position. The action is not yet complete.

Think of it this way: 문이 열려 있다 means the door is open (a state), while 문이 열리고 있다 means the door is currently opening (an action).

그냥 서 있어요. / 아이가 침대에 누워 있어요. / 문이 닫혀 있어요.

The -아/어 있다 pattern is selective and doesn't work with all verbs. It's primarily used with two specific types.

Intransitive Verbs

These are verbs that do not take a direct object, often related to posture, position, or existence.

Examples: 앉다 (to sit), 서다 (to stand), 눕다 (to lie down), 살다 (to live), 남다 (to remain), 숨다 (to hide).

Passive Verbs

These verbs describe a state that has been brought about by some external force. They often end in -이/히/리/기-.

Examples: 열리다 (to be opened), 닫히다 (to be closed), 꺼지다 (to be turned off), 켜지다 (to be turned on), 고장 나다 (to be broken).

Common Mistake

Avoid using -아/어 있다 with most transitive action verbs like 먹다 (to eat) or 읽다 (to read). For these, you must use -고 있다 to describe an ongoing action (e.g., 밥을 먹고 있다). Saying 밥을 먹어 있다 is incorrect.

컴퓨터가 꺼져 있어요. / 에어컨이 고장 나 있어요. / 꽃이 피어 있어.

You can easily adjust the politeness level of this pattern by changing the ending of 있다. The script lines demonstrate this by pairing the casual and polite forms.

Casual (반말): -아/어 있어

Use this form with close friends, family, or people younger than you. It's informal and friendly.

깨어 있어. (I'm awake.)

Polite (해요체): -아/어 있어요

This is the standard polite form for daily conversations. Use it with colleagues, acquaintances, or people older than you. Simply add 요 to the casual form.

깨어 있어요. (I'm awake.)

살아 있니? / 살아 있어요? / 앉아 있어. / 앉아 있어요. / 이 자리 비어 있어? / 이 자리 비어 있어요?