-아/어 있다

How to use it

Shows that the result of a completed change continues: 앉아 있다 'be seated', 열려 있다 'be open'. Used with intransitive and passive verbs (no object).

Forming it

Not with transitive verbs that take an object: ✗ 문을 열어 있어요 → 문이 열려 있어요 / 문을 열어 놓았어요. For wearing clothes use -고 있다: 코트를 입고 있어요.

Examples

• 문이 열려 있어서 그냥 들어갔어요.

  The door was open, so I just went in.

• 할머니께서 의자에 앉아 계세요.

  Grandmother is sitting in the chair.

Compared with similar patterns

-고 있다 is an action in progress (앉고 있다 = is in the act of sitting down); -아/어 놓다/두다 is a transitive action done on purpose with the result kept.

Related patterns

• -고 있다 be doing (progressive); be wearing
• -아/어 놓다/두다 do in advance (for later); leave something in that state