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.

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

domo arigato gozai mashita!

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!