Grammar of て + (い)ましょう


How would one explain this -te form of the verb + mashou here:

> **姫, 城の中で隠れてましょうよ**

Does it mean:

  1. 隠れて (い)ましょう [Lets hide and stay] - where the て is used as sequential action

OR

  2. 隠れて (い)ましょう [Lets keep hiding] - where its present-progressive-volitional tense




Only #2. When it appears in the reduced form, it is always an auxiliary (it is
less frequently a main verb after a te-form anyways). This is similar to
"I'll" or "I don't" cases in English, which are never main verbs in those
forms.

> 帰っている = is at home / has been back and stays home  
>  帰ってる = is at home

> 書いてしまう = has accidentally written / has written and stores  
>  書いちゃう/書いちまう = has accidentally written




Only #2. When it appears in the reduced form, it is always an auxiliary (it is
less frequently a main verb after a te-form anyways). This is similar to
"I'll" or "I don't" cases in English, which are never main verbs in those
forms.

> 帰っている = is at home / has been back and stays home  
>  帰ってる = is at home

> 書いてしまう = has accidentally written / has written and stores  
>  書いちゃう/書いちまう = has accidentally written

