「ている・てある・ておく」 (te iru / te aru / te oku) — Which of the three to pick
All three sound alike — two questions tell them apart.
Formula (सूत्र ढाँचा)
Grammar rule (व्याकरण नियम र परिभाषा)
Meaning
- Ask two questions. First: is this a state right now, or an action you do?
- An action → 〜て おきます (with を) — 窓を 開けて おきます (I will open it and leave it).
- A state → ask the second question: does it matter that a person did it on purpose?
- No → 自動詞 + て います (with が) — 窓が 開いて います (the window is open).
- Yes → 他動詞 + て あります (with が) — 窓が 開けて あります (someone opened it and left it so).
Watch out
All three attach to 〜て, so it is easy to mix them up.
Also
- てあります and ておきます are two moments of the same event: first 開けて おきました (I did it), later 開けて あります (it is done).
- An easy way to hold the particles: an action takes を, a state takes が.
Examples (उदाहरणहरू)
窓が 開いて います。
まどが あいて います。
The window is open. (no hint of who or why)
窓が 開けて あります。
まどが あけて あります。
The window has been left open. (someone did it for a reason)
窓を 開けて おきます。
まどを あけて おきます。
I will open the window and leave it open.
Knowledge check (मिनी ज्ञान जाँच)
Which says "the light is on" without any hint of who switched it on?
💡 Hint: つく is a 自動詞.
自動詞 + て います = a plain state. つけて あります would mean someone switched it on for a reason.
Which says "I will line up the chairs before the meeting"?
💡 Hint: This is an action you do.
For an action you do, use を + 〜て おきます. 並べて あります would be the state after the job is done.
Next to 「ドアが 閉まって います」, which sentence adds that a person closed it on purpose?
💡 Hint: The 他動詞 閉める with て あります.
「閉まって います」 only states the fact. 「閉めて あります」 says a person closed it for a reason and left it so. 「閉めて おきます」 is preparing to do it now.
Your score: /3