ある (inanimate existence)

grammar

11 sentences

The existential verb ある, used for inanimate things and abstract entities — 'there is X / to have X / X exists.' Contrasts with いる (animate existence) — the choice tracks animacy and is mandatory in Japanese. Negative: ない. Polite: あります. Takes が on the subject: 本がある ('there is a book'), 時間がない ('no time'). Names — even of people — count as inanimate items and take ある. Japanese extends this to conditions and abstract states.

11 sentences

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How long until dinner?

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The pharmacy is at the end of this road.

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There's a little path running between the fields.

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There are lots of wildflowers in the field.

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I have chronic dermatitis.

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I don't have time to read books.

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She looked through the list to see if her name was on it.

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She checked the list to see whether her name was on it.

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Do you have a reserved seat?

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Is there an English-Japanese dictionary on the bookshelf?

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There are almost no books.

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