Grammar JLPT Level N5 - Lesson 20

Structure of ～ている ③:

Verb［て］+ いる
Verb［て］+ る
Verb［て］ + とる

Details about ～ている ③:

The 3rd most common meaning (in no specific order) that ている is used for in Japanese, is the repetition of common activities. This is for things that are not 'continuing', but happen so often that they are considered to be continuous (like going to work, having a hobby, and similar things).

私(わたし)は毎日(まいにち)ギターを弾(ひ)いている。
I play my guitar everyday. (This is a hobby of the speaker)
毎晩(まいばん)９時(じ)に寝(ね)ている。
I sleep at 9 every night. (This is a habit of the speaker)
彼(かれ)は学校(がっこう)で働(はたら)いている。
He works at a school. (This is a regular activity of the speaker)

Due to いる being one of the verbs for 'existing' in Japanese, the ている form is closer to 'continuing to exist in a specific state', rather than (A)~ing in English. In this construction, it can be thought of as 'to be existing in the state of performing a regular activity'.

～ている ③

Usage Notes for ～ている ③:

With this meaning of ている, to make it easier to understand, expressions of time are often used. This can be things like 毎日(まいにち), 毎晩(まいばん), 毎週(まいしゅう), and similar phrases.