Lesson 18 · about 5 minutes
There is (thing) / there is (person)
arimasu · imasu · ga
あります・います・が
You'll learn how to say something is there — and pick the right verb for things vs people.
The pattern
あります / います
| Romaji | Japanese | Reading | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| arimasu | あります | あります | there is / have (for things and places) (polite) | |
| imasu | います | います | there is / is present (for people and animals) (polite) | |
| ga | が | が | subject marker often used with あります / います |
How they differ
Japanese splits "there is" by what you're talking about:
Things, buildings, tickets, money → あります
People and animals → います
Pair them with どこ (doko) to ask where:
「トイレは どこ に ありますか?」(toire wa doko ni arimasu ka?): Where is the bathroom?
「だれ が いますか?」(dare ga imasu ka?): Who is there?
Location often takes に (ni): 「ここ に あります。」(koko ni arimasu)
Negatives follow the last lesson: ありません / いません.
Things sit · people live. あります = stuff. います = living beings.
One line: あります = thing, います = person/animal.
Next: Shop and food adjectives: おいしい / たかい / やすい / いい (oishii / takai / yasui / ii).
See it in a sentence
toire wa doko ni arimasu ka?
トイレは どこ に ありますか?
Where is the bathroom? (polite)
koko ni arimasu
ここ に あります。
It's here. (polite)
neko ga imasu
ねこ が います。
There's a cat. (polite)
dare ga imasu ka?
だれ が いますか?
Who is there? (polite)
chiketto wa arimasu ka?
チケットは ありますか?
Do you have a ticket? / Is there a ticket? (polite)
Watch out
あります (arimasu) = things / stuff / places exist or are present います (imasu) = people / animals are present いきます (ikimasu) = go — different verb; don't mix with います
Try it
In your next story, find あります or います. Say out loud whether it points to a thing or to a person/animal.
Check against the lesson cluster and say it out loud.