Resulting State: -아/어 있다

🔊

🎧 Iru Helper Note — Use

Korean Helper Widgets and type 문이 열려 있어요 [mu-ni yeol-lyeo i-sseo-yo], 불이 켜져 있어요 [bu-ri kyeo-jyeo i-sseo-yo], 의자가 놓여 있어요 [ui-ja-ga no-yeo i-sseo-yo], and 사람들이 앉아 있어요 [sa-ram-deu-ri an-ja i-sseo-yo]. Listen for the smooth 아/어 connection before 있어요.

🌈 The Big Picture

• 문이 열려 있어요.
[mu-ni yeol-lyeo i-sseo-yo] — The door is open. 🚪
문 [mun] = door; 열리다 [yeol-li-da] = to open / be opened.

• 불이 켜져 있어요.
[bu-ri kyeo-jyeo i-sseo-yo] — The light is on. 💡
불 [bul] = light/fire; 켜지다 [kyeo-ji-da] = to be turned on.

• 벽에 사진이 걸려 있어요.
[byeok-e sa-ji-ni geol-lyeo i-sseo-yo] — A photo is hanging on the wall. 🖼️
벽 [byeok] = wall; 사진 [sa-jin] = photo; 걸리다 [geol-li-da] = to be hung.

🎨 The Core Topic Family

1. Resulting state after opening/closing

• 문이 열려 있어요.
[mu-ni yeol-lyeo i-sseo-yo] — The door is open.

• 문이 닫혀 있어요.
[mu-ni da-chyeo i-sseo-yo] — The door is closed.

• 창문이 열려 있어요.
[chang-mu-ni yeol-lyeo i-sseo-yo] — The window is open.

2. Resulting state after turning on/off

• 불이 켜져 있어요.
[bu-ri kyeo-jyeo i-sseo-yo] — The light is on.

• 불이 꺼져 있어요.
[bu-ri kkeo-jyeo i-sseo-yo] — The light is off.

• 에어컨이 켜져 있어요.
[e-eo-keo-ni kyeo-jyeo i-sseo-yo] — The air conditioner is on.

3. Body position / posture states

• 사람들이 앉아 있어요.
[sa-ram-deu-ri an-ja i-sseo-yo] — People are sitting.

• 아이가 서 있어요.
[a-i-ga seo i-sseo-yo] — A child is standing.

• 고양이가 누워 있어요.
[go-yang-i-ga nu-wo i-sseo-yo] — A cat is lying down.

4. Objects placed/arranged somewhere

• 책이 책상 위에 놓여 있어요.
[chae-gi chaek-sang wi-e no-yeo i-sseo-yo] — A book is placed on the desk.

• 의자가 창가에 놓여 있어요.
[ui-ja-ga chang-ga-e no-yeo i-sseo-yo] — A chair is placed by the window.

• 안내문이 벽에 붙어 있어요.
[an-nae-mu-ni byeok-e bu-teo i-sseo-yo] — A notice is attached to the wall.

🛠️ How It Works in a Sentence

• 가게 문이 아직 열려 있어요.
[ga-ge mu-ni a-jik yeol-lyeo i-sseo-yo] — The store door is still open. 🏪
가게 [ga-ge] = store; 아직 [a-jik] = still / yet.

• 회의실에 의자가 많이 놓여 있어요.
[hoe-ui-si-re ui-ja-ga ma-ni no-yeo i-sseo-yo] — Many chairs are placed in the meeting room. 🪑
회의실 [hoe-ui-sil] = meeting room; 의자 [ui-ja] = chair; 많이 [ma-ni] = many / a lot.

• 벽에 지도가 붙어 있어요.
[byeok-e ji-do-ga bu-teo i-sseo-yo] — A map is attached to the wall. 🗺️
지도 [ji-do] = map; 붙다 [but-da] = to stick / be attached.

• 아직 [a-jik] — still / yet

• 그대로 [geu-dae-ro] — as it is / unchanged

• 이미 [i-mi] — already

• 계속 [gye-sok] — continuously

• 벽에 [byeok-e] — on the wall

• 책상 위에 [chaek-sang wi-e] — on the desk

🧩 General Formation Rule

Common forms

• 열리다 [yeol-li-da] → 열려 있다 [yeol-lyeo it-da] — to be open

• 닫히다 [da-chi-da] → 닫혀 있다 [da-chyeo it-da] — to be closed

• 켜지다 [kyeo-ji-da] → 켜져 있다 [kyeo-jyeo it-da] — to be on / turned on

• 꺼지다 [kkeo-ji-da] → 꺼져 있다 [kkeo-jyeo it-da] — to be off / turned off

• 앉다 [an-da] → 앉아 있다 [an-ja it-da] — to be sitting

• 서다 [seo-da] → 서 있다 [seo it-da] — to be standing

• 눕다 [nup-da] → 누워 있다 [nu-wo it-da] — to be lying down

• 놓이다 [no-i-da] → 놓여 있다 [no-yeo it-da] — to be placed

• 붙다 [but-da] → 붙어 있다 [bu-teo it-da] — to be attached/stuck

Polite forms

• 열려 있어요 [yeol-lyeo i-sseo-yo] — is open

• 닫혀 있었어요 [da-chyeo i-sseo-sseo-yo] — was closed

• 켜져 있을 거예요 [kyeo-jyeo i-sseul geo-ye-yo] — will probably be on / will be on

🚨 Nuance: -고 있다 vs -아/어 있다

-고 있다 = action in progress

• 문을 열고 있어요.
[mu-neul yeol-go i-sseo-yo] — Someone is opening the door. 🚪
The action is happening now.

-아/어 있다 = resulting state

• 문이 열려 있어요.
[mu-ni yeol-lyeo i-sseo-yo] — The door is open. 🚪
The action already happened; now we see the state.

• 불을 켜고 있어요. [bu-reul kyeo-go i-sseo-yo] — Someone is turning on the light.

• 불이 켜져 있어요. [bu-ri kyeo-jyeo i-sseo-yo] — The light is on.

• 사진을 벽에 붙이고 있어요. [sa-ji-neul byeok-e bu-chi-go i-sseo-yo] — Someone is attaching a photo to the wall.

• 사진이 벽에 붙어 있어요. [sa-ji-ni byeok-e bu-teo i-sseo-yo] — A photo is attached to the wall.

🔍 -아/어 있다 vs Related Grammar

-아/어 있다

• 문이 열려 있어요.
[mu-ni yeol-lyeo i-sseo-yo] — The door is open.

-아/어 놓다 / 두다

• 문을 열어 놓았어요.
[mu-neul yeo-reo no-a-sseo-yo] — I opened the door and left it open.

Plain past

• 문이 열렸어요.
[mu-ni yeol-lyeo-sseo-yo] — The door opened.

-고 있다

• 문을 열고 있어요.
[mu-neul yeol-go i-sseo-yo] — Someone is opening the door.

📚 Cross-check note

🪞 Synonym Alert

• “is open” → 열려 있어요 [yeol-lyeo i-sseo-yo]

• “is closed” → 닫혀 있어요 [da-chyeo i-sseo-yo]

• “is on” → 켜져 있어요 [kyeo-jyeo i-sseo-yo]

• “is off” → 꺼져 있어요 [kkeo-jyeo i-sseo-yo]

• “is sitting” → 앉아 있어요 [an-ja i-sseo-yo]

• “is placed” → 놓여 있어요 [no-yeo i-sseo-yo]

• 아직 [a-jik] — still / yet

• 이미 [i-mi] — already

• 그대로 [geu-dae-ro] — as it is

• 벽에 [byeok-e] — on the wall

• 책상 위에 [chaek-sang wi-e] — on the desk

⚠️ Pitfalls to Dodge

• ❌ 문을 열고 있어요 for “The door is open” → ✅ 문이 열려 있어요. Use the resulting-state form.

• ❌ 불을 켜고 있어요 for “The light is on” → ✅ 불이 켜져 있어요.

• ❌ Forgetting the subject/object shift → ✅ 문을 열어요 = open the door; 문이 열려 있어요 = the door is open.

• ❌ Using plain past when the current state matters → ✅ 문이 열렸어요 = opened; 문이 열려 있어요 = is open now.

• ❌ Writing everything as one chunk in learner practice → ✅ Use spaced forms: 열려 있어요, 앉아 있어요, 놓여 있어요.

📦

🎯 Practice Hub — Resulting State: -아/어 있다

 

Welcome to the freeze-frame lab. 📸 You’ll describe what is open, closed, turned on, turned off, attached, placed, sitting, standing, and lying down. The action already happened; now the scene remains.

 

🔊 Audio reminder: Use

Korean Helper Widgets whenever you want to hear a sentence before checking the answer.

 

📝 Instructions: Fill each blank with the correct resulting-state form. Watch the difference between -고 있다 action-in-progress and -아/어 있다 resulting state.

 

Exercise 1 — Scene Snapshot 📸

A. 문이 ＿＿＿＿.

[mu-ni ＿＿＿＿]

The door is open. 🚪

Answer

열려 있어요 [yeol-lyeo i-sseo-yo].

B. 문이 ＿＿＿＿.

[mu-ni ＿＿＿＿]

The door is closed. 🚪

Answer

닫혀 있어요 [da-chyeo i-sseo-yo].

C. 불이 ＿＿＿＿.

[bu-ri ＿＿＿＿]

The light is on. 💡

Answer

켜져 있어요 [kyeo-jyeo i-sseo-yo].

D. 불이 ＿＿＿＿.

[bu-ri ＿＿＿＿]

The light is off. 🌙

Answer

꺼져 있어요 [kkeo-jyeo i-sseo-yo].

E. 창문이 ＿＿＿＿.

[chang-mu-ni ＿＿＿＿]

The window is open. 🪟

Answer

열려 있어요 [yeol-lyeo i-sseo-yo].

F. 가게가 ＿＿＿＿.

[ga-ge-ga ＿＿＿＿]

The store is closed. 🏪

Answer

닫혀 있어요 [da-chyeo i-sseo-yo].

G. 사진이 벽에 ＿＿＿＿.

[sa-ji-ni byeok-e ＿＿＿＿]

The photo is attached to the wall. 🖼️

Answer

붙어 있어요 [bu-teo i-sseo-yo].

H. 안내문이 문에 ＿＿＿＿.

[an-nae-mu-ni mu-ne ＿＿＿＿]

The notice is attached to the door. 📄

Answer

붙어 있어요 [bu-teo i-sseo-yo].

I. 책이 책상 위에 ＿＿＿＿.

[chae-gi chaek-sang wi-e ＿＿＿＿]

The book is placed on the desk. 📚

Answer

놓여 있어요 [no-yeo i-sseo-yo].

J. 의자가 창가에 ＿＿＿＿.

[ui-ja-ga chang-ga-e ＿＿＿＿]

The chair is placed by the window. 🪑

Answer

놓여 있어요 [no-yeo i-sseo-yo].

📚

Vocabulary Box

• 가게 [ga-ge] → store

• 안내문 [an-nae-mun] → notice/sign

• 책상 위 [chaek-sang wi] → on the desk

• 창가 [chang-ga] → by the window

• 붙다 [but-da] → to be attached

• 놓이다 [no-i-da] → to be placed

Tip 💡 Describe what you see now, not who did it.

 

Exercise 2 — Posture and Position 🧍

A. 학생들이 의자에 ＿＿＿＿.

[hak-saeng-deu-ri ui-ja-e ＿＿＿＿]

The students are sitting on chairs. 🪑

Answer

앉아 있어요 [an-ja i-sseo-yo].

B. 선생님이 앞에 ＿＿＿＿.

[seon-saeng-ni-mi a-pe ＿＿＿＿]

The teacher is standing in front. 🧍

Answer

서 있어요 [seo i-sseo-yo].

C. 강아지가 바닥에 ＿＿＿＿.

[gang-a-ji-ga ba-da-ge ＿＿＿＿]

The puppy is lying on the floor. 🐶

Answer

누워 있어요 [nu-wo i-sseo-yo].

D. 아이가 침대에 ＿＿＿＿.

[a-i-ga chim-dae-e ＿＿＿＿]

The child is lying on the bed. 🛏️

Answer

누워 있어요 [nu-wo i-sseo-yo].

E. 사람들이 줄을 서 ＿＿＿＿.

[sa-ram-deu-ri ju-reul seo ＿＿＿＿]

People are standing in line. 🚶

Answer

있어요 [i-sseo-yo] — 줄을 서 있다 = to be standing in line.

F. 고양이가 소파에 앉아 ＿＿＿＿.

[go-yang-i-ga so-pa-e an-ja ＿＿＿＿]

The cat is sitting on the sofa. 🐈

Answer

있어요 [i-sseo-yo].

G. 친구가 문 앞에 서 ＿＿＿＿.

[chin-gu-ga mun a-pe seo ＿＿＿＿]

My friend is standing in front of the door. 🚪

Answer

있어요 [i-sseo-yo].

H. 아기가 바닥에 앉아 ＿＿＿＿.

[a-gi-ga ba-da-ge an-ja ＿＿＿＿]

The baby is sitting on the floor. 👶

Answer

있어요 [i-sseo-yo].

I. 학생이 칠판 앞에 서 ＿＿＿＿.

[hak-saeng-i chil-pan a-pe seo ＿＿＿＿]

The student is standing in front of the board. 🧑‍🎓

Answer

있어요 [i-sseo-yo].

J. 강아지가 문 옆에 누워 ＿＿＿＿.

[gang-a-ji-ga mun yeo-pe nu-wo ＿＿＿＿]

The puppy is lying beside the door. 🐶

Answer

있어요 [i-sseo-yo].

🧍

Vocabulary Box

• 학생 [hak-saeng] → student

• 선생님 [seon-saeng-nim] → teacher

• 앞 [ap] → front

• 바닥 [ba-dak] → floor

• 침대 [chim-dae] → bed

• 줄을 서다 [ju-reul seo-da] → to stand in line

• 소파 [so-pa] → sofa

• 칠판 [chil-pan] → board

Tip 💡 Posture verbs often pair naturally with -아/어 있다.

 

Exercise 3 — Action or State? 🔍

A. Which means “Someone is opening the door”?

① 문을 열고 있어요 / ② 문이 열려 있어요

Answer

① — action in progress.

B. Which means “The door is open”?

① 문을 열고 있어요 / ② 문이 열려 있어요

Answer

② — resulting state.

C. Which means “Someone is turning on the light”?

① 불을 켜고 있어요 / ② 불이 켜져 있어요

Answer

① — action in progress.

D. Which means “The light is on”?

① 불을 켜고 있어요 / ② 불이 켜져 있어요

Answer

② — resulting state.

E. Which means “Someone is attaching a notice”?

① 안내문을 붙이고 있어요 / ② 안내문이 붙어 있어요

Answer

① — action in progress.

F. Which means “A notice is attached”?

① 안내문을 붙이고 있어요 / ② 안내문이 붙어 있어요

Answer

② — resulting state.

G. Which sentence uses an object marker?

① 문을 열고 있어요 / ② 문이 열려 있어요

Answer

① — 문을 uses the object marker because someone is doing the action.

H. Which sentence uses a subject marker?

① 문을 열고 있어요 / ② 문이 열려 있어요

Answer

② — 문이 is the subject of the state.

I. 의자가 놓여 있어요 means:

Answer

“The chair is placed there.”

J. 의자를 놓고 있어요 means:

Answer

“Someone is placing the chair.”

🧭

Decision Box

• 문을 열고 있어요 → opening the door now

• 문이 열려 있어요 → the door is open

• 불을 켜고 있어요 → turning on the light now

• 불이 켜져 있어요 → the light is on

Tip 💡 Object + -고 있다 often shows action. Subject + -아/어 있다 often shows state.

 

Exercise 4 — Rewrite to Resulting State ✍️

A. 문이 열렸어요. → 문이 ＿＿＿＿.

[mu-ni yeol-lyeo-sseo-yo → mu-ni ＿＿＿＿]

The door is open.

Answer

열려 있어요 [yeol-lyeo i-sseo-yo].

B. 문이 닫혔어요. → 문이 ＿＿＿＿.

[mu-ni da-chyeo-sseo-yo → mu-ni ＿＿＿＿]

The door is closed.

Answer

닫혀 있어요 [da-chyeo i-sseo-yo].

C. 불이 켜졌어요. → 불이 ＿＿＿＿.

[bu-ri kyeo-jyeo-sseo-yo → bu-ri ＿＿＿＿]

The light is on.

Answer

켜져 있어요 [kyeo-jyeo i-sseo-yo].

D. 불이 꺼졌어요. → 불이 ＿＿＿＿.

[bu-ri kkeo-jyeo-sseo-yo → bu-ri ＿＿＿＿]

The light is off.

Answer

꺼져 있어요 [kkeo-jyeo i-sseo-yo].

E. 사진이 붙었어요. → 사진이 벽에 ＿＿＿＿.

[sa-ji-ni bu-teo-sseo-yo → sa-ji-ni byeok-e ＿＿＿＿]

The photo is attached to the wall.

Answer

붙어 있어요 [bu-teo i-sseo-yo].

F. 책이 놓였어요. → 책이 책상 위에 ＿＿＿＿.

[chae-gi no-yeo-sseo-yo → chae-gi chaek-sang wi-e ＿＿＿＿]

The book is placed on the desk.

Answer

놓여 있어요 [no-yeo i-sseo-yo].

G. 사람들이 앉았어요. → 사람들이 ＿＿＿＿.

[sa-ram-deu-ri an-ja-sseo-yo → sa-ram-deu-ri ＿＿＿＿]

People are sitting.

Answer

앉아 있어요 [an-ja i-sseo-yo].

H. 아이가 섰어요. → 아이가 ＿＿＿＿.

[a-i-ga seo-sseo-yo → a-i-ga ＿＿＿＿]

The child is standing.

Answer

서 있어요 [seo i-sseo-yo].

I. 고양이가 누웠어요. → 고양이가 ＿＿＿＿.

[go-yang-i-ga nu-wo-sseo-yo → go-yang-i-ga ＿＿＿＿]

The cat is lying down.

Answer

누워 있어요 [nu-wo i-sseo-yo].

J. 안내문이 붙었어요. → 안내문이 문에 ＿＿＿＿.

[an-nae-mu-ni bu-teo-sseo-yo → an-nae-mu-ni mu-ne ＿＿＿＿]

The notice is attached to the door.

Answer

붙어 있어요 [bu-teo i-sseo-yo].

✍️

Vocabulary Box

• 열렸어요 [yeol-lyeo-sseo-yo] → opened

• 닫혔어요 [da-chyeo-sseo-yo] → closed

• 켜졌어요 [kyeo-jyeo-sseo-yo] → turned on

• 꺼졌어요 [kkeo-jyeo-sseo-yo] → turned off

• 붙었어요 [bu-teo-sseo-yo] → attached/stuck

• 놓였어요 [no-yeo-sseo-yo] → was placed

• 앉았어요 [an-ja-sseo-yo] → sat down

• 섰어요 [seo-sseo-yo] → stood up

• 누웠어요 [nu-wo-sseo-yo] → lay down

Tip 💡 Plain past says the change happened. -아/어 있다 says the state remains.

 

Exercise 5 — Mixed Mastery + Pitfall Patrol 🛡️

A. ❌ 문을 열고 있어요 for “The door is open” → ✅ ＿＿＿＿

Answer

문이 열려 있어요 [mu-ni yeol-lyeo i-sseo-yo].

B. ❌ 불을 켜고 있어요 for “The light is on” → ✅ ＿＿＿＿

Answer

불이 켜져 있어요 [bu-ri kyeo-jyeo i-sseo-yo].

C. ❌ 사진을 붙이고 있어요 for “The photo is attached” → ✅ ＿＿＿＿

Answer

사진이 붙어 있어요 [sa-ji-ni bu-teo i-sseo-yo].

D. Which is state?

① 앉고 있어요 / ② 앉아 있어요

Answer

② — 앉아 있어요 = is sitting.

E. Which is action in progress?

① 앉고 있어요 / ② 앉아 있어요

Answer

① — 앉고 있어요 can mean someone is in the process of sitting down.

F. 가게 문이 아직 ＿＿＿＿.

[ga-ge mu-ni a-jik ＿＿＿＿]

The store door is still open.

Answer

열려 있어요 [yeol-lyeo i-sseo-yo].

G. 에어컨이 아직 ＿＿＿＿.

[e-eo-keo-ni a-jik ＿＿＿＿]

The air conditioner is still on.

Answer

켜져 있어요 [kyeo-jyeo i-sseo-yo].

H. 의자가 회의실에 ＿＿＿＿.

[ui-ja-ga hoe-ui-si-re ＿＿＿＿]

The chairs are placed in the meeting room.

Answer

놓여 있어요 [no-yeo i-sseo-yo].

I. -아/어 있다 focuses on:

Answer

The maintained state after an action or change is complete.

J. -고 있다 usually focuses on:

Answer

An action currently in progress.

🛡️

Final Check

• 열려 있어요 [yeol-lyeo i-sseo-yo] → is open

• 닫혀 있어요 [da-chyeo i-sseo-yo] → is closed

• 켜져 있어요 [kyeo-jyeo i-sseo-yo] → is on

• 꺼져 있어요 [kkeo-jyeo i-sseo-yo] → is off

• 앉아 있어요 [an-ja i-sseo-yo] → is sitting

• 서 있어요 [seo i-sseo-yo] → is standing

• 누워 있어요 [nu-wo i-sseo-yo] → is lying down

• 붙어 있어요 [bu-teo i-sseo-yo] → is attached

• 놓여 있어요 [no-yeo i-sseo-yo] → is placed

Tip 💡 Ask: “Am I describing the scene after something happened?” If yes, use -아/어 있다.

 

🎉 Resulting-state grammar mastered! You can now describe a room, street, sign, light, door, person, or object as a current scene after a change: 문이 열려 있어요, 불이 켜져 있어요, 사진이 붙어 있어요. Korean freeze-frame unlocked. 🧷📸