ある and いる: choosing an existence verb

The idea

Use あります for objects and plants, and います for people and animals. Place に identifies the location; が marks what is there. The polite negatives are ありません and いません.

Examples

• 机つくえの上うえに本ほんがあります。There is a book on the desk.
• 庭にわに犬いぬがいます。There is a dog in the garden.
• 部屋へやに友達ともだちがいます。A friend is in the room.
• 駅えきの近ちかくに銀行ぎんこうがあります。There is a bank near the station.
• 台所だいどころに猫ねこはいません。There is no cat in the kitchen.
• 公園こうえんに木きがあります。There is a tree in the park.

Watch out

A sleeping animal still takes います: actual movement is not the test. Events are described with ある, even when people attend.

Try it yourself

1. Choose the correct form: There is a dog in the garden. 庭にわに犬いぬが＿。（います／あります）

   Show answer or example answer

   います

   A dog is an animal, so います is the ordinary choice.

2. Choose the correct form: There is a book on the desk. 机つくえの上うえに本ほんが＿。（います／あります）

   Show answer or example answer

   あります

   A book is an object, so use あります.

3. Choose the correct form: A friend is in the room. 部屋へやに友達ともだちが＿。（います／あります）

   Show answer or example answer

   います

   A friend is a person, so use います.

Use it today

Describe an object and an animal in your room, then say where a friend is.