Posted inN2 Grammar

Mastering ものがある (mono ga aru): Expressing Subjective Feelings Like a Native

Posted inN2 Grammar
Japanese Grammar Template
Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

There is something (about it) that gives me a feeling/impression.

🎯 Primary Function

To express a subjective feeling, impression, or evaluation about a situation, thing, or action, conveying that the speaker feels a certain quality or nuance exists.

📋 Grammar Structure

[Verb (plain form)] + ものがある / [い-adjective (plain form)] + ものがある / [な-adjective (omit な)] + なものがある

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

Can be used, especially in written form or more considered speech, to express nuanced opinions.

😊 Informal Situations

Less frequent than purely casual expressions, but used to convey a specific subjective feeling or observation.

✍️ Written Language

Commonly used in articles, essays, and descriptions to express nuanced observations and impressions.

🗣️ Spoken Language

Used in conversation when discussing impressions or feelings about something observed or experienced.

💡 Common Applications

Expressing a sense of lack or deficiency in something.
Used with negative concepts or things perceived as insufficient.
Example: 彼の話には、どこか説得力に欠けるものがある。(Kare no hanashi ni wa, dokoka settokuryoku ni kakeru mono ga aru.) – There is something lacking in persuasiveness in his story.
Expressing a feeling of concern, unease, or bother.
Used when something observed causes a feeling of anxiety or worry.
Example: 最近の若い人たちの言葉遣いは、少し気になるものがある。(Saikin no wakai hitotachi no kotobadzukai wa, sukoshi ki ni naru mono ga aru.) – Regarding the recent speech patterns of young people, there is something a little bothersome (to me).
Expressing a general feeling or quality associated with an action or situation.
Used to describe the inherent feeling evoked by a situation.
Example: 一人で海外旅行するのは、不安なものがある。(Hitori de kaigai ryokou suru no wa, fuan na mono ga aru.) – Traveling abroad alone, there is something anxiety-inducing about it.
📊
Frequency
Moderately frequent among advanced speakers and in written language.
🎚️
Difficulty
Medium
Example Sentences
彼の話には、どこか説得力に欠けるものがある。
There is something lacking in persuasiveness in his story.
最近の若い人たちの言葉遣いは、少し気になるものがある。
Regarding the recent speech patterns of young people, there is something a little bothersome (to me).
一人で海外旅行するのは、不安なものがある。
Traveling abroad alone, there is something anxiety-inducing about it.
Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

Expresses subjective feeling/impression.
This pattern is used for conveying the speaker’s personal feeling or sense about something, not for stating objective facts.
Example: 例：この問題は難しいものがある。(This problem has something difficult about it – subjective) 対：この問題は難しい。(This problem is difficult – can be objective)
Often used with words describing feelings or qualities.
Commonly precedes words that describe a subjective state or characteristic, such as 不安な, 寂しい, 興味深い (kyoumi bukaisu – interesting), etc.
Example: 彼の意見には、聞く価値があるものがある。(Kare no iken ni wa, kiku kachi ga aru mono ga aru.) – There is something in his opinion that is worth listening to.

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ Using it for objective facts.
✅ Do not use ものがある for statements that are universally true or easily verifiable.
ものがある is for subjective impressions, not objective descriptions. For example, you wouldn’t say 「水は液体であるものがある」.
❌ Incorrect conjugation, especially with な-adjectives.
✅ Remember to add 「な」 before ものがある for な-adjectives.
A common error is saying 「静かものがある」 instead of the correct 「静かなものがある」.

🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: Semi-formal to Formal.
Social Situations: Suitable for discussions where expressing nuanced opinions and subjective impressions is appropriate, often when evaluating or describing something.
Regional Variations: Generally standard Japanese, not significantly subject to regional variation in this usage.

🔍 Subtle Differences

〜ものがある vs 〜と感じる
〜ものがある implies the feeling originates from some inherent quality or aspect of the subject. 〜と感じる is a more direct statement of one’s personal feeling.
When to use: Use 〜ものがある when you want to convey that the subject itself possesses a quality that evokes a certain feeling. Use 〜と感じる when simply stating how you feel.
〜ものがある vs 〜ようだ/そうだ
〜ものがある expresses a subjective feeling or impression about a deeper quality. 〜ようだ and 〜そうだ describe appearance, likelihood, or hearsay.
When to use: Use 〜ものがある for inherent qualities or feelings evoked. Use 〜ようだ for appearance/conjecture, 〜そうだ for hearsay/appearance.
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undefined
When to use: undefined

📝 Conjugation Notes

Verbs and い-adjectives connect in their plain form. な-adjectives require 「な」 before ものがある. Nouns can sometimes be used with 「というものがある」, which carries a different nuance, often meaning “there is something called…” or defining something.

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

Pronounce 「ものがある」 smoothly, linking 「もの」 and 「が」. The “ga” is usually pronounced with a nasal sound [ŋa] in casual speech, but a clear [ga] is also correct.

🧠 Memory Tips

Think of 「ものがある」 as “There is a [something] that makes me feel/gives the impression of [adjective/verb]”. The 「もの」 represents the intangible quality or aspect of the subject.

Vocabulary List
説得力
settokuryoku
persuasiveness
欠ける
kakeru
to lack
言葉遣い
kotobadzukai
speech patterns, way of talking
気になる
ki ni naru
to be bothered by, to be concerned about
海外旅行
kaigai ryokou
overseas travel
不安な
fuan na
anxious, uneasy
絵
painting, picture
Kanji List
説
セツ
opinion, theory
得
トク
gain, obtain
力
リョク
power, force
欠
ケツ
lack
言
ゲン、ゴン
word, speech
葉
ヨウ
leaf
遣
ケン
send, dispatch
気
キ
spirit, mind, air
海
カイ
sea
外
ガイ
outside
旅
リョ
trip
Practice Exercises
Choose the correct ending: 彼の音楽には、何か心に響く（　　）。
ものがある
ことがある
はずだ
ようだ
Fill in the blank: 試験の前は、どうしても（　　）なものがある。
楽し
大変
不安
面白
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