Back to grammar search

ある/いる (Existence)

[Place]に[Thing]がある (inanimate)
[Place]に[Person/Animal]がいる (animate)

Explanation

Express existence or possession.

Formation

Place に + Thing が + ある/いる

Examples

部屋に机があります。
Heya ni tsukue ga arimasu.
There's a desk in the room.
See in analyzer →
公園に子供がいます。
Kouen ni kodomo ga imasu.
There are children in the park.
See in analyzer →
時間がありません。
Jikan ga arimasen.
I don't have time.
See in analyzer →

Usage Notes

  • ある for inanimate objects
  • いる for living things
  • Place に Thing が exists
  • Also used for possession

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Don't use を with ある/いる
  • Plants use ある (not いる)
  • Robots/dolls can vary

Related Grammar from "Existence and Location"

Location Expressions

Various patterns for describing location

Words used to describe relative positions and locations.

More from "Existence and Location"