ある
To Exist (Inanimate)
ある is the basic verb for 'to be' or 'there is' when talking about objects, plants, or abstract concepts. It is also used to say you 'have' something inanimate.
How It Works
The verb ある serves four primary functions:
1. Existence: Stating that something exists ('There is a...').
Example: 机（つくえ）の上に本（ほん）がある。 (There is a book on the desk.)
2. Location: Stating where an object is located.
Example: 駅（えき）はあそこにあります。 (The station is over there.)
3. Possession: Expressing that you 'have' something. This applies to all inanimate objects (like cars or books) as well as abstract things (like time or money).
Example: 時間（じかん）があります。 (I have time.)
4. Events and Occurrences: Stating that an event takes place.
Example: 明日（あした）、パーティーがあります。 (There is a party tomorrow.)
Conjugation Notes:
- Polite Form: あります
- Plain Negative (Irregular): ない. Note that あらない is never used.
- Polite Negative: ありません
- Plain Past: あった
- Polite Past: ありました
- Plain Negative Past: なかった
- Polite Negative Past: ありませんでした
Important Distinction:
Use ある for things that do not have a 'will' of their own. This includes plants and vehicles. Use いる for people and animals.
Examples (5)
- 部屋にテレビがあります。
There is a TV in the room.
Word by Word: Room in TV (subject) exists.
This uses the polite form あります to state the existence of a physical object (TV) in a location.
- 車があります。
I have a car.
Word by Word: Car (subject) exists.
ある is the standard verb used to express possession of any inanimate object, such as a car or a book.
- 明日、テストがあります。
There is a test tomorrow.
Word by Word: Tomorrow, test (subject) exists.
ある is used to state that an event or occurrence, like a test or a party, will take place.
- お金がない。
I don't have money.
Word by Word: Money (subject) does-not-exist.
This uses the irregular negative form ない to show the absence of something.
- あそこにきれいな花がありました。
There was a beautiful flower over there.
Word by Word: Over there beautiful flower (subject) existed.
This shows the polite past tense ありました. Even though flowers are living organisms, they take ある because they are inanimate in Japanese grammar.
Common Mistakes
Using ある for people or animals.
猫がある。猫がいる。ある is only for inanimate objects. For living, breathing things like 猫（ねこ） or people, you must use いる.
Incorrect negative conjugation.
本があらない。本がない。ある is irregular in its plain negative form. You cannot say あらない; you must use the word ない.
Using the object particle を instead of が.
本をあります。本があります。ある describes a state of existence, not an action performed on an object. Therefore, the subject particle が is used to mark what exists.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand 'ある', you need to know how to mark a subject with the particle 'が' and understand the basic structure of a Japanese sentence involving verbs.
- がSubject Marker
The particle が is used to mark the subject that exists when using the verb ある.
Level 1 - Verb concepts
Understanding that ある is a verb and how verbs function in a sentence is necessary for its usage.
Foundations - Basic sentence structure
Knowledge of how to form a simple sentence is required to place the subject and the verb ある correctly.
Foundations
Related Patterns
- いるTo Exist (Animate)
The counterpart to ある, used for the existence of animate beings (people and animals).
Level 1 - にTarget/location Marker
The particle used to mark the location where the object exists.
Level 1 - ない形Plain Negative
The plain negative form of ある is the basis for the 'nai-form' used in many other grammar patterns.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
- Location WordsLevel 1
- 台Counter for Machines/vehiclesLevel 1
- たことがあるHave Done BeforeLevel 2
- てあるResultative StateLevel 2
- ておくDo in AdvanceLevel 2
- 必要があるNeed toLevel 2
- ことがあるSometimes/Have ExperiencedLevel 3
- ことはないNo Need To/neverLevel 3
And 12 more in the full list.
Words in This Pattern
Practice ある in Bubblegum
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