Difference between 死んでいる　and　死んでいた

Simi

先輩

24 Sep 2007

43

0

• 26 Feb 2009

• #1

What is the difference between 死んでいます and 死んでいました?
My 日本語の先生 explained resultative verbs once briefly, but I'm still a little confused about the difference tenses.

I'd really appreciate a straight-forward explanation.


ありがとうございます

 

Ashikaga

もちもちした食感

19 Feb 2008

2,220

84

• 26 Feb 2009

• #2

死んでいます is in the present tense while 死んでいました is in the past.

手遅れです。この患者は死んでいます（亡くなっていま す）。
It's too late. This patient is dead (deceased).

１５分前に私が診た時にはもうすでに死んでいました（ 亡くなっていました）。
When I checked (the patient) 15 minutes ago, s/he was already dead (deceased).

 

N

nhk9

先輩

27 Aug 2004

415

12

• 14 Mar 2009

• #3

"Resultative Verb" is just a fancy way of saying verbs that express a condition. In English, we tend to use the present perfect or past perfect.
Like how we say "Brad Pitt has had experience filming hollywood movies"