To say how many exist, use place に + noun が + number with a counter + the existence verb. Compare the examples and table, then try the exercises.

The idea

To say how many exist, use place に + noun が + number with a counter + the existence verb. 人 counts people, 冊 counts books and 匹 counts small animals. Use います for people and animals, but あります for objects.

Patterns to compare
FormExample
人ひと一人ひとり／二人ふたり／三人さんにん
本ほん一冊いっさつ／二冊にさつ／三冊さんさつ
猫ねこ一匹いっぴき／二匹にひき／三匹さんびき
もの一ひとつ／二ふたつ／三みっつ

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.
  • 庭にわに猫ねこが二匹にひきいます。There are two cats in the garden.
  • 机つくえに本ほんが二冊にさつあります。There are two books on the desk.
  • 部屋へやに椅子いすが四よっつあります。There are four chairs in the room.
  • 家いえに犬いぬが一匹いっぴきいます。There is one dog at home.
  • 教室きょうしつに先生せんせいが二人ふたりいます。There are two teachers in the classroom.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

Counter readings can change: 一人 is ひとり, 二人 is ふたり, and 一匹 is いっぴき.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the correct option. 先生せんせいが三さん＿＿います。（人にん／冊さつ）

    Show answer or example answer

    人

    人 — 人 counts people, 冊 counts books and 匹 counts small animals.

  2. Choose the correct option. 本ほんが二に＿＿あります。（冊さつ／匹ひき）

    Show answer or example answer

    冊

    冊 — 人 counts people, 冊 counts books and 匹 counts small animals.

  3. Choose the correct option. 犬いぬが一匹いっぴき＿＿。（います／あります）

    Show answer or example answer

    います

    います — Use います for people and animals, but あります for objects.

Use it today

Make two sentences about your own life with this pattern. Check their form and meaning against the examples.