KANAKUMA

JLPT N5 · Reference, existence, and questions

Nがある／いる

States that an object or living being exists

Meaning

States that an object or living being exists.

Formation

  1. Things and plants: N + が + ある; people and animals: N + が + いる. A tree takes ある although it is alive: 木があります
  2. The place is marked with に: 机の上に本がある
  3. Possession: person + は + thing + が + ある: 私はお金があります — I have money. Family members and friends take いる: 私は姉が一人います — I have an older sister

When to use it

Core use
States that an object or living being exists

Examples

14 sentences

  • 机つくえの上うえに本ほんがある

    There is a book on the desk.

  • 公園こうえんに子どもこどもがいる

    There are children in the park.

  • 私わたしはお金かねがあります

    I have money.

  • 兄あには車くるまがあります

    My older brother has a car.

  • 図書館としょかんに辞書じしょがあります

    There is a dictionary at the library.

  • 駅えきに時計とけいがあります

    There is a clock at the station.

  • 公園こうえんに大きなおおきな木きがあります

    There is a big tree at the park.

  • 庭にわに猫ねこがいます

    There is a cat in the garden.

6 more examples

  • 教室きょうしつに学生がくせいが三人さんにんいます

    There are three students in the classroom.

  • 美術館びじゅつかんに有名ゆうめいな絵えがあります

    There is a famous painting at the art museum.

  • 池いけに魚さかながいます

    There are fish in the pond.

  • 私わたしは姉あねが一人ひとりいます

    I have one older sister.

  • 学校がっこうに新しいあたらしい教室きょうしつがあります

    There is a new classroom at the school.

  • 明日あしたは日本語にほんごのテストがあります

    We have a Japanese test tomorrow.

Important notes

  • The choice follows how Japanese treats the thing, not biology: people and animals take いる, objects and plants take ある: 猫がいる, 木がある. Events also take ある: 会議がある.

Common mistakes

  • Do not replace both verbs with です: 机です names the thing, 机があります says it exists.

Check yourself

Pick the translation of each sentence. The wrong options translate similar patterns, so watch the grammar rather than the words.

  1. 教室きょうしつに学生がくせいが三人さんにんいます
  2. 私わたしは姉あねが一人ひとりいます
  3. 明日あしたは日本語にほんごのテストがあります

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