Existence & Location (いる / ある)
Learning Objectives
- Understand the difference between animate existence (いる) and inanimate existence (ある).
- State that something exists or that you have something.
- Describe the location of an object or person using the particle に.
- Use position words (top, bottom, inside) to give precise locations.
In English, we say “There is a dog” and “There is a book.” The verb “is” remains exactly the same whether the subject is alive or an inanimate object.
Japanese, however, draws a very strict line between the living and the non-living. There are two completely different verbs used to express existence (“There is…” / “I have…”). The verb you choose depends entirely on whether the subject can move on its own! Learning to instinctively choose between these two verbs is a major milestone for beginners.
1. Inanimate Existence: ある (Aru)
The verb ある (aru) is used for anything that is inanimate (not alive) or things that are alive but cannot move on their own (like plants and trees). It is a Group 1 verb. Its polite form is あります (arimasu).
You use it to say “There is a [Noun]” or “I have a [Noun]”. Because existence is technically an action Japanese attributes to the object, the object is marked with the particle が (ga), NOT を (o).
ほん が あります。
Hon ga arimasu.
There is a book. (Or: I have a book.)
ホテル に プール が あります。
Hoteru ni pūru ga arimasu.
There is a pool at the hotel.
じかん が ありません。
Jikan ga arimasen.
There is no time. / I don't have time.
[!NOTE] Ideas, events, and abstract concepts (like time, plans, tests) are all considered inanimate, so they take ある (arimasu). (e.g., テスト が あります - I have a test.)
2. Animate Existence: いる (Iru)
The verb いる (iru) is used for people, animals, and insects—anything that is alive and can move of its own volition. It is a Group 2 verb. Its polite form is います (imasu).
Like aru, the living subject is marked with the particle が (ga).
ねこ が います。
Neko ga imasu.
There is a cat. (Or: I have a cat.)
あそこ に たなかさん が います。
Asoko ni Tanaka-san ga imasu.
Mr. Tanaka is over there.
ともだち が いません。
Tomodachi ga imasen.
I have no friends.
3. Describing Location with “に”
To say where something exists, you place the location word at the beginning of the sentence and mark it with the particle に (ni). The particle に acts like “at” or “in” for existence verbs.
The formula is: [Location] に [Subject] が [います / あります]
としょかん に ほん が あります。
Toshokan ni hon ga arimasu.
There are books in the library.
へや に いぬ が います。
Heya ni inu ga imasu.
There is a dog in the room.
4. Position Words (Top, Bottom, Inside)
Sometimes saying “in the room” isn’t specific enough. You need to say “on top of the desk” or “behind the chair”.
In Japanese, positional nouns like “Top” (うえ) or “Inside” (なか) behave like regular nouns. To link a physical object to a position word, you use the connecting particle の (no). Example: つくえ (Desk) + の + うえ (Top) = つくえ の うえ (On top of the desk).
You can then treat that whole phrase as your Location, attaching に to the end of it!
つくえ の うえ に ペン が あります。
Tsukue no ue ni pen ga arimasu.
There is a pen on top of the desk.
くるま の なか に ねこ が います。
Kuruma no naka ni neko ga imasu.
There is a cat inside the car.
ホテル の まえ に バス が あります。
Hoteru no mae ni basu ga arimasu.
There is a bus in front of the hotel.
Position Vocabulary
| Word | Romaji | Meaning | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| うえ | Ue | Above / On top of | Position |
| した | Shita | Below / Under | Position |
| なか | Naka | Inside / In | Position |
| そと | Soto | Outside | Position |
| まえ | Mae | In front of | Position |
| うしろ | Ushiro | Behind | Position |
| となり | Tonari | Next to (same category) | Position |
| ちかく | Chikaku | Near / Vicinity | Position |
Conversation Practice
すみません、わたしの スマホ が ありますか。
Sumimasen, watashi no sumaho ga arimasuka?
Excuse me, is my smartphone there?
はい、つくえ の うえ に あります よ。
Hai, tsukue no ue ni arimasu yo.
Yes, it is on top of the desk.
あ、よかった。それから、ねこ は どこ に います か。
A, yokatta. Sorekara, neko wa doko ni imasu ka?
Ah, good. Also, where is the cat?
ねこ は つくえ の した に います。
Neko wa tsukue no shita ni imasu.
The cat is under the desk.
ベッド の なか に は いません か。
Beddo no naka ni wa imasen ka.
Is it not inside the bed?
はい、いません。つくえ の した に います。
Hai, imasen. Tsukue no shita ni imasu.
Yes, it is not. It is under the desk.
Chapter Summary
- 1ある (arimasu) is for inanimate objects, plants, and concepts.
- 2いる (imasu) is for living, moving things like people and animals.
- 3The item that exists is marked with the particle が (ga).
- 4The location where it exists is marked with the particle に (ni).
- 5You can specify detailed locations by connecting a noun to a position word using the の particle (e.g., はこ の なか - Inside the box).
Knowledge Check
Test your understanding of existence and location!
Quiz
Which verb must you use to say 'There is a dog'?