ていた

was doing, had been doing

Build a strong foundation of Japanese with a high-frequency grammar and real-world phrases.

ていた is a versatile Japanese structure used to indicate that an action was in progress or continuous in the past. It translates as "was (doing something)" or "had been (doing something)" in English, resembling the past continuous tense. Additionally, ていた describes habitual actions or states that occurred regularly in the past but are no longer ongoing.

This structure is essential for providing context or background in narratives, emphasizing that the action or state happened over a period in the past. It is also used to express nostalgia or reflection, adding emotional depth to descriptions.

Formed by attaching いた (the past tense of いる) to the て-form of a verb, ていた is an indispensable tool for describing past events with nuance and detail.

Structure

Verb［て］+ いるた

Verb［て］+ いました (polite)

Level

Key uses

1. Expressing an ongoing action in the past

ていた is frequently used to describe actions that were actively in progress at a specific time in the past, similar to the English past continuous tense. This usage helps set the scene or provide context for events.

[ Additional Insight ]

This use is ideal for describing background actions or ongoing processes that contribute to a current situation. It’s common in narratives or explanations.

2. Describing past habits or repeated actions

ていた is often used to describe actions or behaviors that were habitual or routine in the past. It is comparable to the English "used to."

[ Additional Insight ]

This form is particularly effective for nostalgic or reflective statements, making it ideal for discussing past routines or traditions that are no longer ongoing.

3. Describing states or conditions that existed in the past

With intransitive verbs, ていた can be used to describe conditions or states that were continuously true in the past. This is commonly used to give background information about a past scene or situation.

[ Additional Insight ]

This usage often ties past experiences to current abilities or circumstances, making it valuable for highlighting continuity between past and present.

4. Emphasizing duration or timing with time expressions

ていた is often combined with time expressions like その時(at that time) or ずっと (continuously) to emphasize the duration or specific timing of the action or condition in the past.

[ Additional Insight ]

This usage helps contrast past conditions with the present, making it effective for transitions or comparisons.

5. Casual casual abbreviated form てた

In informal speech, ていた is often shortened to てた by omitting the い for a more conversational tone. This is widely used in casual settings to make speech sound relaxed and natural.

[ Additional Insight ]

While てた is appropriate for casual contexts, it should be avoided in formal speech, where the full form ていました is required for politeness and professionalism.

6. Highlighting interrupted or unfinished past actions

ていた can also describe past actions or states that were interrupted or left incomplete. This is often used to contrast with what happened next.

[ Additional Insight ]

This usage adds depth to narratives by indicating a change in the course of events, helping to build context and anticipation in storytelling.

Comparisons

1. ている

Both ている and ていた describe ongoing actions or states, but they differ in tense. ている focuses on actions or states that are currently in progress, while ていた refers to actions or states that were ongoing in the past. Use ている for present contexts and ていた for past, ongoing situations.