-고 있다

The “-고 있다” (-go it-da) ending in Korean is used to express the present continuous tense, similar to “-ing” in English. It describes an ongoing action happening at the moment.

Structure:
[Verb stem] + -고 있다

Example Sentences:

나는 책을 읽고 있어요. (na-neun chaek-eul ilg-go it-seo-yo.) – I am reading a book.
친구와 이야기하고 있어요. (chin-gu-wa i-ya-gi-ha-go it-seo-yo.) – I am talking with my friend.
비가 내리고 있어요. (bi-ga nae-ri-go it-seo-yo.) – It is raining.
동생이 자고 있어요. (dong-saeng-i ja-go it-seo-yo.) – My younger sibling is sleeping.
학생들이 공부하고 있습니다. (hak-saeng-deul-i gong-bu-ha-go it-seum-ni-da.) – The students are studying. (formal)

This structure is commonly used in daily conversation to indicate ongoing actions.

See also -중이다