What is the difference between "〜がる" and "〜がっている"?

Question

I want to know the difference between `〜がる` and `〜がっている`, and in what situations I can use them. My friend said `〜がる` is used for a regular activity that someone does every day or every week, and the person also wants to do that activity. `〜がっている` is used for activities that someone really wants to do but hardly has time to do. Is this right?

Answer 1

~GARU means "to show signs of ~" or "seems ~" and reflects the thinking, feeling or actions of someone other than the speaker (usually: narration in novels or looking at oneself objectively are exceptions).

As you said, in the ~GARU form, it shows a general tendency to act that way - 注射を嫌がる子供が多い - "There are many children who (seem to) hate shots/injections."

However, ~GATTEIRU would be something that has going on for sometime or a currently occurring action - 彼女は犬が怖がっている。今、赤ちゃんが眠りたがっている。- "She is afraid of dogs." "Right now, the baby wants to sleep."