Resultative State (-아/어/여 있다): Describing 'Is Seated', 'Is Open'
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use -아/어/여 있다 to describe a state that continues after an action has been completed.
- Attach -아/어/여 to the verb stem based on vowel harmony.
- Add 있다 to indicate the state remains unchanged.
- Use this for verbs that imply a resulting state like 'sit', 'open', or 'die'.
Overview
Korean grammar possesses a nuanced system for describing actions and their resulting states, often with greater specificity than English. The pattern -아/어/여 있다 (romanized as -a/eo/yeo itda) is fundamental to this system, signifying a resultative state. It describes a state of being that came about as the consequence of a preceding, completed action and continues to exist in the present.
Unlike the progressive form -고 있다 (-go itda), which denotes an action actively in progress, -아/어/여 있다 focuses on the static outcome of that action. Consider the distinction: if someone 앉고 있어요 (anjgo isseoyo), they are actively in the process of sitting down; if they 앉아 있어요 (anja isseoyo), they are already seated. This grammar is crucial for accurately portraying the current condition or configuration of people and objects, making it an indispensable part of intermediate Korean communication at the B1 level and beyond.
This pattern primarily combines with intransitive verbs (verbs that do not take a direct object) or passive verbs (verbs that indicate the subject is undergoing an action). The linguistic principle behind this is that the subject itself is in the resultant state, rather than actively performing an action upon something else. For example, 문이 열려 있어요 (muni yeollyeo isseoyo, "The door is open") describes the door's state, which is the result of someone having opened it.
Mastering this distinction allows for more precise and natural expression in Korean.
How This Grammar Works
- Intransitive Verbs: These are verbs that do not require a direct object. The action performed by the subject affects only the subject itself. Examples include verbs of posture or movement that bring the subject to a specific state. For instance,
앉다(to sit),서다(to stand),눕다(to lie down),일어서다(to stand up),숨다(to hide). When these verbs combine with -아/어/여 있다, they describe the subject's current posture or position. For example,아이가 침대에 누워 있어요(aiga chimdaee nuwo isseoyo, "The child is lying on the bed"). The action of lying down is complete, and the child remains in that state.
- Passive Verbs: These verbs indicate that the subject is receiving or undergoing an action, rather than performing it. Many passive verbs are formed from transitive verbs. For example,
열다(to open, transitive) becomes열리다(to be opened, passive). Similarly,닫다(to close, transitive) becomes닫히다(to be closed, passive), and켜다(to turn on, transitive) becomes켜지다(to be turned on, passive). When -아/어/여 있다 is appended to these passive verbs, it describes the state of the object that has been acted upon. For example,창문이 닫혀 있어요(changmuni dathyeo isseoyo, "The window is closed"). The action of closing is complete, and the window remains in a closed state.
먹다 (to eat), the subject performs an action on an object.밥이 먹어 있어요 (babi meogeo isseoyo) to mean "The rice is eaten" because the rice is the object of the eating, not the subject in a resultant state due to its own action. For such cases, you would either use a passive construction (밥이 먹혀 있어요 — if referring to something being consumed, though this is less common for food) or entirely different grammar. The distinction underscores that -아/어/여 있다 focuses on the subject's intrinsic condition following an event, not the state of an external object that was acted upon.Formation Pattern
있다 portion then conjugates for tense and politeness level.
놓다 (to place): While the stem ends in ㅗ, it is typically used in its passive form 놓이다 (to be placed) or through the derived passive structure 놓여 있다 when describing the resultant state of something being placed somewhere. 놓아 있다 is technically possible but far less common for inanimate objects in a state of being placed; 놓여 있다 is the idiomatic choice for "is placed."
-아어 often contracts to -여 (e.g., 열리어 있다 -> 열려 있다). For 하다 verbs, 하여 있다 universally contracts to 해 있다. This is a natural phonetic change.
있다 part will conjugate as 있어요 (informal polite), 있습니다 (formal polite), 있어 (casual), or 있으니 (conjunctive, etc.). Always choose the appropriate politeness level for your context.
-아/어/여 있다 inherently describes a present state, 있었다 can be used to describe a past state (문이 열려 있었어요 – "The door was open"), and 있을 것이다 for a future state (문이 열려 있을 거예요 – "The door will be open"). The future tense often implies an expectation that the state will persist or come into being.
When To Use It
- 1Describing Posture or Position:
아이가 의자에 앉아 있어요.(aiga uijae anja isseoyo.) - "The child is seated on the chair." (Not in the process of sitting, but already in the seated position.)그는 벽에 기대어 서 있어요.(geuneun byeoge gidaeeo seo isseoyo.) - "He is standing leaning against the wall." (The action of standing and leaning is complete, and he remains in that posture.)개가 마루에 누워 있습니다.(gaega marue nuwo issseumnida.) - "The dog is lying on the floor." (The dog finished lying down and is now in that state.)
- 1Describing the State of Inanimate Objects:
가게 문이 닫혀 있어요.(gage muni dathyeo isseoyo.) - "The store door is closed." (The door was closed by someone, and it remains in that state.)불이 켜져 있어요.(buri kyeojyeo isseoyo.) - "The light is on." (Someone turned on the light, and it is still on.)책상 위에 책이 놓여 있어요.(chaeksang wie chaegi nohyeo isseoyo.) - "A book is placed on the desk." (The action of placing is done, and the book's position is static.)
- 1Indicating Continued Existence or Remaining Quantity:
남다 (to remain) or 있다 (to exist), it shows something is still present.지갑에 돈이 남아 있지 않아요.(jigabe doni nama issji anhayo.) - "There's no money left in my wallet." (The state of money remaining is absent.)아직도 할 일이 많이 쌓여 있어요.(ajikdo hal iri manhi ssahyeo isseoyo.) - "There are still many things piled up to do." (The tasks accumulated and remain in that state.)
- 1Special Cases:
가다(to go) and오다(to come):
그는 벌써 집에 가 있어요.(geuneun beolsseo jibe ga isseoyo.) - "He has already gone home (and is there)." (Emphasizes his current presence at home after going.)손님이 와 계세요.(sonnimi wa gyeseyo.) - "A guest has come (and is here)." (Often used with the honorific계시다to indicate the guest's presence.)
입다, 신다, 쓰다, 끼다, 차다)옷을 입고 있어요.(oseul ipgo isseoyo.) - "I am wearing clothes." (Not actively putting them on, but in the state of wearing.)모자를 쓰고 있습니다.(moja-reul sseugo isseumnida.) - "I am wearing a hat." (Refers to the state of wearing.)
Common Mistakes
- 1Confusing with -고 있다 for ongoing actions:
- Incorrect:
저는 지금 앉고 있어요.(To mean: "I am seated.") - This literally translates to: "I am in the process of sitting down right now." You are mid-air, lowering yourself.
- Correct:
저는 지금 앉아 있어요.(jeoneun jigeum anja isseoyo.) - "I am seated right now."
- Incorrect:
꽃이 피어 있어요.(To mean: "The flower is blooming.") - This translates to: "The flower is in bloom." It's a static state.
- Correct (for ongoing action):
꽃이 피고 있어요.(kkochi pigo isseoyo.) - "The flower is blooming." (You can watch the petals unfurl.)
입다, 신다, 쓰다, 끼다, 차다) use -고 있다 for the resultant state of wearing, making them a unique challenge.그는 코트를 입고 있어요.(geuneun koteu-reul ipgo isseoyo.) - "He is wearing a coat." (Correct for state of wearing.)
- 1Using object particles (
을/를) with the subject:
- Incorrect:
문을 열려 있어요.(This implies the door is an object being opened, not the subject in an open state.) - Correct:
문이 열려 있어요.(muni yeollyeo isseoyo.) - "The door is open."
- Incorrect:
책상을 책이 놓여 있어요. - Correct:
책상 위에 책이 놓여 있어요.(chaeksang wie chaegi nohyeo isseoyo.) - "A book is placed on the desk."
- 1Attempting to use with active transitive verbs:
- Incorrect:
사과가 먹어 있어요.(To mean: "The apple is eaten.") 먹다(to eat) is transitive. The apple is the object. This construction doesn't work.- Correct Alternatives:
사과가 다 없어졌어요.(sagwaga da eopseojyeosseoyo.) - "The apple is all gone/disappeared."사과가 먹혔어요.(sagwaga meokyeosseoyo.) - "The apple was eaten." (Using the passive voice, though먹히다is more common for animals being eaten or a plan being 'eaten up' or 'consumed' by something else, rather than a person eating an apple.)
- 1Misidentifying passive verbs:
열다 (to open) and their passive counterparts like 열리다 (to be opened).- Incorrect:
문이 열다 있어요. - Correct:
문이 열려 있어요.(muni yeollyeo isseoyo.) - "The door is open."
Real Conversations
Understanding a grammar point is one thing; seeing how it manifests in authentic, modern Korean conversations is another. -아/어/여 있다 is ubiquitous in daily interactions, from casual chat to more formal descriptions.
1. Describing Current Conditions/Scenes (Casual Chat):
- A: 어디야? (eodiya?) - "Where are you?"
- B: 나 카페에 앉아 있어. (na kape-e anja isseo.) - "I'm seated at the cafe."
- Observation: Here, 앉아 있어 clearly communicates a state of being seated, not the action of sitting down. Using 앉고 있어 would sound like B is mid-action.
2. Status of Objects/Environment (Everyday Situations):
- A: 창문이 왜 열려 있지? 에어컨 켰는데. (changmuni wae yeollyeo itji? eeokeon kyeonneumyeon.) - "Why is the window open? I turned on the AC."
- B: 아, 내가 잠깐 환기 시키려고 열어 놨어. (a, naega jamkkan hwangi sikiryeogo yeoreo nwasseo.) - "Oh, I left it open to air out for a bit."
- Observation: 열려 있지 (the casual, questioning form of 열려 있다) perfectly describes the window's current open state. Notice how B's reply uses 열어 놨어 (yeoreo nwasseo), 열어 놓다, which implies opening it for a purpose and leaving it in that state. This highlights the subtle distinction between merely describing a state (-아/어/여 있다) and describing a state that was intentionally created and maintained (-아/어 놓다).
3. Describing Someone's State (Social Media/Texting):
- Caption on Instagram: 주말 침대랑 한 몸이 되어 있어요. (jumal chimdaerang han momi doe-eo isseoyo.) - "I've become one body with my bed on the weekend." (Meaning: I'm just lying in bed.)
- Observation: 한 몸이 되어 있어요 describes the humorous, almost fused, state of being in bed. It's an idiomatic way to express deep relaxation or reluctance to move.
4. Explaining Availability/Situation (Work/Formal Contexts):
- 현재 회의실은 비어 있습니다. (hyeonjae hoeuisireun bieo isseumnida.) - "The meeting room is currently empty/vacant." (Formal polite)
- 모든 좌석이 예약되어 있습니다. (modeun jwaseogi yeyakdoe-eo isseumnida.) - "All seats are reserved." (Formal polite)
- Observation: 비어 있습니다 (from 비다, to be empty) and 예약되어 있습니다 (from 예약되다, to be reserved) are common in formal announcements or status reports, clearly indicating the current state of a resource.
5. Cultural Insight:
In Korean communication, accurately distinguishing between an action in progress and a resultant state contributes to politeness and clarity. Misusing -고 있다 for a static state can sometimes sound awkward or even childish, similar to a non-native English speaker consistently saying "I am sitting down" when they mean "I am seated." Paying attention to -아/어/여 있다 demonstrates a deeper grasp of linguistic nuance.
Quick FAQ
가다 (to go) and 오다 (to come)? What's the nuance?가다 becomes 가 있다 (ga itda), meaning "has gone and is (still) there," and 오다 becomes 와 있다 (wa itda), meaning "has come and is (still) here." The emphasis is on the current presence at a location after having moved there.그는 일본에 가 있어요.(geuneun ilbone ga isseoyo.) - "He has gone to Japan (and is currently there)."친구가 우리 집에 와 있어요.(chinguga uri jibe wa isseoyo.) - "My friend has come to our house (and is currently here)."
갔어요, 왔어요) which only states the action of going/coming occurred, without necessarily confirming current presence.있다 with 계시다 (gyesida). The preceding -아/어/여 part remains the same.선생님께서 서 계세요.(seonsaengnimkkeseo seo gyeseyo.) - "The teacher is standing."할머니께서 방에 앉아 계십니다.(halmeonikkeseo bange anja gyesimnida.) - "Grandmother is seated in the room."
-a/eo nota)?- -아/어/여 있다 simply describes a currently existing state resulting from a past action, without implying the action was done with a specific intention for the future.
- -아/어 놓다 describes a state that was intentionally created by an action and maintained for a future purpose or use. It implies foresight and preparedness.
열다 (to open):문이 열려 있어요.(muni yeollyeo isseoyo.) - "The door is open." (It's just open, no particular reason implied for its openness.)문을 열어 놓았어요.(muneul yeoreo noasseoyo.) - "I opened the door and left it open (for some reason, e.g., to air out the room, or for someone to enter later)."
열어 놓다 would then result in 문이 열려 있다.아/어 놓다 adds the layer of intention and future utility. If you use 아/어 놓다 you are describing your action, whereas 아/어/여 있다 describes the state of the subject.- Incorrect:
예뻐 있어요.(To mean: "Is pretty.") - Correct:
예뻐요.(yeppeoyo.) - "Is pretty."
있다 to 있을 것이다 (isseul geotida).회의가 시작되면 모두 자리에 앉아 있을 거예요.(hoeui-ga sijakdoemyeon modu jarie anja isseul geoyeyo.) - "When the meeting starts, everyone will be seated in their places." (An expectation that people will be in a seated state.)
Resultative State Formation
| Verb | Stem | Ending | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
|
앉다
|
앉
|
-아 있다
|
앉아 있다
|
|
열다
|
열
|
-어 있다
|
열려 있다
|
|
켜다
|
켜
|
-어 있다
|
켜져 있다
|
|
닫다
|
닫
|
-아 있다
|
닫혀 있다
|
|
놓다
|
놓
|
-아 있다
|
놓여 있다
|
|
하다
|
하
|
-여 있다
|
해 있다
|
Meanings
This grammar pattern describes a state that persists after an action has been performed. It focuses on the result of the action rather than the action itself.
Resulting State
The current condition of an object or person resulting from a previous action.
“창문이 닫혀 있어요.”
“그는 의자에 앉아 있어요.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
V-아/어/여 있다
|
문이 열려 있어요.
|
|
Negative
|
V-아/어/여 있지 않다
|
문이 열려 있지 않아요.
|
|
Interrogative
|
V-아/어/여 있어요?
|
문이 열려 있어요?
|
|
Past State
|
V-아/어/여 있었다
|
문이 열려 있었어요.
|
|
Honorific
|
V-아/어/여 있으시다
|
선생님이 앉아 있으세요.
|
|
Short Answer
|
V-아/어/여 있어요
|
네, 열려 있어요.
|
Formality Spectrum
문이 열려 있습니다. (General observation)
문이 열려 있어요. (General observation)
문이 열려 있어. (General observation)
문 열려 있네. (General observation)
Resultative State Map
Posture
- 앉아 있다 is sitting
Object State
- 열려 있다 is open
Condition
- 켜져 있다 is on
Examples by Level
의자에 앉아 있어요.
I am sitting on the chair.
문이 열려 있어요.
The door is open.
불이 켜져 있어요.
The light is on.
창문이 닫혀 있어요.
The window is closed.
그는 안경을 쓰고 있어요.
He is wearing glasses.
가방이 놓여 있어요.
The bag is placed there.
꽃이 피어 있어요.
The flowers are blooming.
책이 쌓여 있어요.
The books are piled up.
그들은 서로 마주 보고 앉아 있어요.
They are sitting facing each other.
컴퓨터가 켜져 있지 않아요.
The computer is not turned on.
벽에 사진이 걸려 있어요.
A picture is hanging on the wall.
길이 막혀 있어요.
The road is blocked.
모든 준비가 완료되어 있어요.
All preparations are completed.
그는 깊은 생각에 잠겨 있어요.
He is lost in deep thought.
문제가 해결되어 있어요.
The problem is resolved.
그녀는 화가 나 있어요.
She is angry.
그의 이름이 명단에 적혀 있어요.
His name is written on the list.
그 마을은 산에 둘러싸여 있어요.
The village is surrounded by mountains.
그는 고향을 떠나 있어요.
He is away from his hometown.
그 사실은 이미 알려져 있어요.
That fact is already known.
그 전통은 오랫동안 이어져 있어요.
The tradition has been continued for a long time.
그는 세상과 단절되어 있어요.
He is disconnected from the world.
그 법안은 계류되어 있어요.
The bill is pending.
그의 마음은 닫혀 있어요.
His heart is closed.
Easily Confused
Both involve -있다, but one is for active progress and the other for static state.
Both describe states, but -두다 implies an action done for a future purpose.
Some resultative verbs look like passive forms.
Common Mistakes
문이 열고 있어요.
문이 열려 있어요.
앉고 있어요.
앉아 있어요.
불이 켜고 있어요.
불이 켜져 있어요.
책이 놓아 있어요.
책이 놓여 있어요.
창문이 닫고 있어요.
창문이 닫혀 있어요.
꽃이 피고 있어요.
꽃이 피어 있어요.
가방이 두고 있어요.
가방이 놓여 있어요.
그는 화가 나고 있어요.
그는 화가 나 있어요.
문제는 해결하고 있어요.
문제는 해결되어 있어요.
길이 막고 있어요.
길이 막혀 있어요.
Sentence Patterns
___이/가 ___아/어/여 있어요.
___에 ___이/가 ___아/어/여 있어요.
___는 ___아/어/여 있지 않아요.
___가 ___에 ___아/어/여 있어서 ___.
Real World Usage
지금 카페에 앉아 있어.
꽃이 예쁘게 피어 있어요.
준비가 완료되어 있습니다.
문이 닫혀 있어요.
가게 문이 열려 있어요.
컴퓨터가 켜져 있어요.
Check the Verb
Don't confuse with -고 있다
Use for Locations
Be Polite
Smart Tips
Use -아/어/여 있다 for everything that has a fixed state.
Use it for postures like sitting or standing.
Use it for lights, computers, and machines.
Use it for states like being angry or happy.
Pronunciation
Linking
The final consonant of the verb stem often links to the '이' in '있어요'.
Declarative
문이 열려 있어요 ↘
Stating a fact.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of it as 'The state is staying'. If you are sitting, you are 'staying' in that sitting position.
Visual Association
Imagine a door that has been opened and is now frozen in that open position. The '있어요' is the ice holding it in place.
Rhyme
Action done, state stays, -아/어/여 있다 always plays.
Story
I walked into the room. The door was open (열려 있다). I saw my friend sitting (앉아 있다) on the chair. The light was on (켜져 있다). Everything was in a state.
Word Web
Challenge
Look around your room right now and describe 3 things using -아/어/여 있다.
Cultural Notes
Koreans are very precise about state vs. action. Using the wrong one can sound like you are currently performing the action (e.g., standing up) instead of just being in the state.
Derived from the verb '있다' (to exist/be) combined with the connective -아/어/여.
Conversation Starters
지금 어디에 앉아 있어요?
창문이 열려 있어요?
방에 불이 켜져 있어요?
그 문제는 해결되어 있어요?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
문이 ___ 있어요. (열다)
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
불이 켜고 있어요.
창문이 닫혀 있어요.
-아/어/여 있다 is for actions in progress.
A: 지금 뭐 해요? B: 의자에 ___.
벽에 / 사진이 / 걸려 / 있어요.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercises문이 ___ 있어요. (열다)
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
불이 켜고 있어요.
창문이 닫혀 있어요.
-아/어/여 있다 is for actions in progress.
A: 지금 뭐 해요? B: 의자에 ___.
벽에 / 사진이 / 걸려 / 있어요.
열다 -> ?
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercises불이 ___ 있어요. (The light is on.) [켜지다]
Grandfather is lying down.
놓여 / 책상 / 가방이 / 위에 / 있어요
Identify the error in usage.
Match the Action to the State
Look at the falling leaves. 낙엽이 ___ 있어요. (falling/fallen state)
When would you say '친구가 서 있어요'?
카페에 사람이 안 계세요.
컵이 깨고 있어요. (The cup is broken/shattered.)
칠판에 이름이 ___ 있어요. (The name is written on the blackboard.)
종이___ 떨어져 있어요. (A paper is on the floor.)
들어가 / 방에 / 있어요 / 친구가
Score: /12
FAQ (8)
No, only for verbs that imply a resulting state.
-고 있다 is for active movement, -아/어/여 있다 is for static states.
Add -지 않다 to the 있다 part.
It can be used in all registers by changing the ending of 있다.
Yes, just change 있다 to 있었어요.
Some verbs have irregular passive-like state forms.
Yes, like '화가 나 있다'.
Yes, it is extremely common.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Estar + participio
Spanish uses past participles, while Korean uses the -아/어/여 form.
Zustandspassiv
German focuses on the passive state, Korean focuses on the verb's result.
Être + participe passé
French requires gender/number agreement, Korean does not.
-te iru
Japanese uses the -te form, Korean uses -아/어/여.
Verb + zhe
Chinese 'zhe' is a particle, Korean '있다' is a full verb.
Ism al-maf'ul
Arabic is highly morphological; Korean is agglutinative.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Learn These First
Present Tense: The Polite 'Yo' Style (아/어/여요)
Overview Korean verbal conjugation might initially seem complex due to its multiple politeness levels and shifting endin...
Being & Having (있다/없다)
Overview In Korean, the verbs `있다` (itda) and `없다` (eopda) are fundamental for expressing both **existence** and **p...
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Related Grammar Rules
No choice but to... (-ㄹ/을 수밖에 없다)
Overview The Korean grammar pattern `-(으)ㄹ 수밖에 없다` is a powerful expression of inevitability. It conveys that du...
Present Progressive: -ing (고 있다)
Overview Korean, like English, distinguishes between habitual or general actions and actions that are actively in progre...
To the Absolute Max: (-ㄹ/을 대로)
Overview Korean grammar employs `-(ㄹ/을) 대로` to express that a state or action has reached its absolute **utmost limi...
Just/Only: Emphatic Limitation (-ㄹ/을 뿐이다)
Overview At the B2 CEFR level in Korean, you're moving beyond basic sentence construction to express nuanced ideas, subt...
Logically Likely: -ㄹ/을 법하다
Overview `-(으)ㄹ 법하다` is a Korean grammar pattern that expresses a logical likelihood, plausibility, or reasonable e...
