Japanese Grammar: があります (ga arimasu)

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Japanese Grammar: があります (ga arimasu)
Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

‘There is’ or ‘to have’ (used for inanimate objects).

🎯 Primary Function

To express the existence or possession of non-living things, plants, and abstract concepts.

📋 Grammar Structure

[Noun] + が + あります (arimasu)
Not applicable (Usually follows a noun)
Not applicable (Usually follows a noun)
[Noun] + が + ありません (arimasen)

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

Commonly used in polite conversation (Desu/Masu style).

😊 Informal Situations

In casual speech, ‘arimasu’ becomes ‘aru’.

✍️ Written Language

Used frequently in textbooks, letters, and basic reports.

🗣️ Spoken Language

Essential for daily communication to point out objects or state what you have.

💡 Common Applications

Existence of Objects
Used to state that a physical object exists in a certain location.
Example: ここに鞄があります。 (There is a bag here.)
Possession
Used to express that someone owns or possesses an item.
Example: カメラがあります。 (I have a camera.)
Events/Schedules
Used to indicate that an event, meeting, or occurrence exists in time.
Example: パーティーがあります。 (There is a party / A party will take place.)
📊
Frequency
Very High
🎚️
Difficulty
JLPT N5 (Beginner)
Tag:

Related Kanji

JLPT N5 Kanji List

Related Vocabulary

JLPT N5 Vocabulary List
Example Sentences
Example #1
机の上に本があります。
Furigana: つくえのうえにほんがあります。
Romaji: Tsukue no ue ni hon ga arimasu.
English: There is a book on the desk.
Example #2
車があります。
Furigana: くるまがあります。
Romaji: Kuruma ga arimasu.
English: I have a car.
Example #3
部屋にコンピューターがあります。
Furigana: へやにコンピューターがあります。
Romaji: Heya ni konpyuuta ga arimasu.
English: There is a computer in the room.
Example #4
あそこにコンビニがあります。
Furigana: あそこにコンビニがあります。
Romaji: Asoko ni konbini ga arimasu.
English: There is a convenience store over there.
Example #5
質問があります。
Furigana: しつもんがあります。
Romaji: Shitsumon ga arimasu.
English: I have a question.
Example #6
明日試験があります。
Furigana: あしたしけんがあります。
Romaji: Ashita shiken ga arimasu.
English: There is an exam tomorrow.
Example #7
お金があります。
Furigana: おかねがあります。
Romaji: Okane ga arimasu.
English: I have some money.
Example #8
庭に木があります。
Furigana: にわにきがあります。
Romaji: Niwa ni ki ga arimasu.
English: There is a tree in the garden.
Example #9
今日は約束があります。
Furigana: きょうはやくそくがあります。
Romaji: Kyou wa yakusoku ga arimasu.
English: I have a promise (an appointment) today.
Example #10
お手洗いがありますか。
Furigana: おてあらいがありますか。
Romaji: Otearai ga arimasu ka.
English: Is there a bathroom?
Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

Abstract Concepts
‘Arimasu’ is used for abstract concepts like time, ideas, or questions.
Example: 時間があります。 (I have time.)
Plants use ‘Arimasu’
Even though plants are living organisms, in Japanese grammar, they are usually treated like inanimate objects and use ‘arimasu’.
Example: 花があります。 (There are flowers.)

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ 犬があります。 (Inu ga arimasu.)
✅ 犬がいます。 (Inu ga imasu.)
‘Arimasu’ is only for inanimate objects. For living things (people/animals), use ‘imasu’.
❌ お金がありまくない。 (Okane ga arimakunai.)
✅ お金がありません。 (Okane ga arimasen.)
When using the negative form ‘arimasen’, the particle ‘ga’ is often replaced by ‘wa’ (Okane wa arimasen) to emphasize ‘money’ specifically, but ‘ga’ is not strictly wrong. however, ‘nai’ is the casual version.

🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: Polite (Teineigo). Suitable for talking to teachers, strangers, or colleagues.
Social Situations: Standard way to ask if a shop has a certain item or if a service is available.
Regional Variations: In some dialects like Kansai-ben, ‘aru’ is used similarly but with different intonations or sentence-ending particles.

🔍 Subtle Differences

Arimasu vs. Imasu
Arimasu is for objects/plants; Imasu is for people/animals.
When to use: Use Arimasu for a chair; use Imasu for a cat.
Ga arimasu vs. Wa arimasu
‘Ga’ introduces new information; ‘Wa’ focuses on the topic or provides contrast.
When to use: Use ‘Ga’ to say ‘There is a book.’ Use ‘Wa’ to say ‘As for the book, it is here.’

📝 Conjugation Notes

‘Arimasu’ is the polite form. The dictionary form (casual) is ‘aru’. The negative polite form is ‘arimasen’. The past polite form is ‘arimashita’.

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

The ‘r’ sound in ‘arimasu’ is a Japanese ‘r’, which is a flap like the ‘dd’ in the English word ‘ladder’. Keep the ‘u’ at the end very short/silent.

🧠 Memory Tips

Think of ‘Arimasu’ for ‘A-biotic’ (non-living) things. They both start with ‘A’!

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