-아/어 있다 expresses a continuing state of a completed action and corresponds to ‘is -ed/-ing' in English. It is often used with passive verbs, such as 열리다 (to be opened), 닫히다 (to be closed), 켜지다 (to be turned on), 꺼지다 (to be turned off), 떨어지다 (to be dropped), and 놓이다 (to be put, to be placed).

Details

1. For verbs meaning 'to put on' or 'to wear', such as 입다, 신다 and 쓰다, -고 있다 is added to the stem to form 입고 있다, 신고 있다 and 쓰고 있다 instead of 입어 있다, 신어 있다 and 써 있다.

우리 동생은 코트를 입어 있어요. ✕

운동화를 신어 있어요. ✕

모자를 써 있어요. ✕

가방을 들어 있어요. ✕

넥타이를 매 있어요. ✕

2. -아/어 있다 is used only with verbs that do not require a direct object.

창문을 열었어요. 그래서 창문이 열려 있어요. ✓

I opened the window. Therefore, the window is open.

창문을 열어 있어요. ✕

Comparison:

Kimchi Reader

Expresses a continuing state of a completed action. The action has been completed, but the state still maintains itself.

Details

Spacing

Both versions [아/어]있다 and 아/어 있다 (with space) exist and can be used interchangeably.

V-아/어 있다

Kimchi Reader

Spacing