Konbanwa! I am wondering if there is a difference between Shitte imasu("I know") from lesson 1.3 and Shite imasu(the continual action of something) used in lesson 1.4. Either way I'm not 100% certain how to use shite imasu.
Shite imasu and Shitte imasu
Inazuma
September 23, 2009
Sayaka-Matsuura
September 24, 2009
Inazuma-san, Konnichiwa!
しています _(shite imasu)_ AND しっています _(shitte imasu)_
Note the the second word has a small *っ* _(tsu)_ in between *し* _(shi)_ and *て* _(te)_. This small *っ* _(tsu)_ is represented by the doubled consonant in Romaji (roman alphabet) - where you stop the sound *_'t'_* for a bit with your mouth - before getting to the next consonant. This small *っ* _(tsu)_ followed by a *て* _(te)_ = *って* (written _tte_) means you need to make the *_'t'_* with your mouth and pause a bit before saying *て* _(te)_.
This small *っ* _(tsu)_ is what distinguishes しています _(shite imasu)_ AND しっています _(shitte imasu)_.
Now, the te-form of a verb plus いる _(iru)_ or the politer version います _(imasu)_ makes a compound verb which expresses an action in progress, like "am ~ing" "is ~ing" "are ~ing"
:idea: しています _(shite imasu)_ translates as "I am doing" and comes from the verb する _(suru)_ "to do"
:idea: しっています _(shitte imasu)_ translates as "I know" and comes from the verb しる _(shiru)_ "to know"
しています _(shite imasu)_ is used when you want to express what you are presently doing. For example, "I am studying" would be *_Benkyō o shite imasu_* (_*benkyō*_ = "study"). OR, "I am doing laundry" *_Sentaku o shite imasu_* (_*sentaku*_ = "laundry")
-Sayaka :P
Inazuma
September 24, 2009
domo arigato gozai mashita!
CatPanda
September 27, 2009
Another way to think of it...
しています
Shiteimasu is well suru as Sayaka said
しっています
Shitteimasu is the って [-te] form of shiru...
Just something I noticed though so if it helps then all the better if not then well... OK that's cool too!