There are two verbs to express existence in Japanese:
| Verb
(Basic Form) |
Verb
(Polite Form) |
Meaning | Usage | Example |
| いる
(iru) |
います
(imasu) |
to be located | living things (can move by himself/itself) | people, animal |
| ある
(aru) |
あります (arimasu) | to be located, to exist, to have | nonliving things (cannot move by itself) | plants, things |
In the sentence, we use the particle が (ga) between noun and existence verb.
If the location is specified, particle に (ni) is placed after the location to indicate ‘in/at’.
Structure: Adverb of Place + に + Noun + が + Existence Verb
庭に犬がいます。
Niwa ni inu ga imasu.
There is a dog in the garden.
部屋に机があります。
Heya ni tsukue ga arimasu.
There is a desk in the room.
Possession (to have)
ある/あります (aru/arimasu) is also used to indicate possession of something (to have).
Structure: Noun + が + ある/あります
お金があります。
Okane ga arimasu.
(I) have money.
Read: Expressing ‘to give’ and ‘to receive’ in Japanese
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