Question

메리는 책을 옆구리에 끼고 있어요 When used with verbs like 입다, 신다, 쓰다, 끼다, 들다 and 하다 (in its 'wearing' meaning), -고 있- expresses two possible meanings:'to be in the process of putting something on';'to be wearing something'.The intended meaning is clarified by context.The progressive tense expressed with -고 있- is generally optional; it is used primarily to emphasize the ongoing state of an activity. The simple present tense is used to describe any activity happening in the present, including cases which would be expressed in the progressive tense in English.-고 계시- is a honorific form of -고 있-.-고 있- cannot be used with verbs depicting a body position (sitting, lying) or a state of an entity (to be opened, to be included) → use -아/어 있- instead.Expressions with -고 있- cannot convey the future meaning in the way English expressions like 'I am calling him now' can.

Accepted Answer

Mary has a book under her arm

Front	메리는 책을 옆구리에 끼고 있어요
Back	Mary has a book under her arm
Notes	When used with verbs like 입다, 신다, 쓰다, 끼다, 들다 and 하다 (in its 'wearing' meaning), -고 있- expresses two possible meanings: 'to be in the process of putting something on'; 'to be wearing something'. The intended meaning is clarified by context. The progressive tense expressed with -고 있- is generally optional; it is used primarily to emphasize the ongoing state of an activity. The simple present tense is used to describe any activity happening in the present, including cases which would be expressed in the progressive tense in English. -고 계시- is a honorific form of -고 있-. -고 있- cannot be used with verbs depicting a body position (sitting, lying) or a state of an entity (to be opened, to be included) → use -아/어 있- instead. Expressions with -고 있- cannot convey the future meaning in the way English expressions like 'I am calling him now' can.

고 있 Tense Verbs Meaning Progressive Expressed State