-고 있다
go itda
The film is still rolling: -고 있다
The picture A film reel still turning, so the picture keeps moving. -고 있다 is the reel turning; -아/어 있다 is the single frame left after it stopped.
Where the picture shows up in -고 있다
-
the frame running right now
지금 밥 먹고 있어요.
ji-geum bap meok-go i-sseo-yo
I'm eating right now.
A spoon going back and forth between the bowl and your mouth, over and over
-
a frame that has not ended
버스 기다리고 있어요.
beo-seu gi-da-ri-go i-sseo-yo
I'm waiting for the bus.
Standing at the stop, turning your head again and again toward where the bus comes from
-
a frame months long
요즘 한국어를 배우고 있어요.
yo-jeum han-gu-geo-reul bae-u-go i-sseo-yo
I'm learning Korean these days.
The textbook open on your desk, its pages turning one at a time for months now
-
a frame you wear
오늘은 안경을 쓰고 있어요.
o-neu-reun an-gyeong-eul sseu-go i-sseo-yo
I'm wearing glasses today.
The glasses you put on this morning, still resting on your nose all day long
With 입다 (wear), 쓰다, 신다, 들다, -고 있다 means you have it on, not that you are putting it on. Context decides.
-
someone else's frame, raised
사장님이 기다리고 계세요.
sa-jang-ni-mi gi-da-ri-go gye-se-yo
The boss is waiting for you.
Through the gap in the door, the boss still sitting there, glancing at his watch
To show respect, 있다 becomes 계시다.
All of it in one picture
-고 있다 is one reel that has not stopped. While the spoon keeps travelling, you are eating; while your head keeps turning toward the road, you are waiting. Pages turning for months is the same reel, and this morning's glasses staying on your nose all day is the same reel too. So whether the reel is one second or half a year long, -고 있다 always carries the feeling that this picture has not finished yet.