-고 있다
Quick answer: -고 있다 means is doing — the action is under way right now.
How to form it
Verb stem + 고 있다 · same form after any stem
In Korean: 동사 어간 + 고 있다 받침과 상관없습니다
What to know
In level 1, 해요 covered both «I do» and «I am doing». -고 있다 pins it to this moment, and that is when Korean bothers to use it — most of the time the plain form is enough. On the phone it is almost obligatory, because the other person cannot see you.
Examples
- 지금 회의를 하고 있어요.I am in a meeting right now.
- 잠시 기다리고 있어요.I am waiting a moment.
- 출장을 가고 있어요.He is away on a business trip.
Where it's taught
HanDa Level 2 (TOPIK I), Lesson 29: 지금 뭐 하고 있어요? — What are you doing right now?. Also in the Level 2 book.
Practise -고 있다 out loud
In the HanDa app this is Level 2, Lesson 29 — drills, a speaking check and an AI teacher that corrects what you say. Free for 7 days.