JapaneseJLPT
JLPT N5 grammar · Chapter 5

あります

Something non-living is there, or that you have it

You’ll be able to say that objects exist somewhere or that you own particular things.

Illustration of the scene described by There is water in the refrigerator.
Read it first

冷蔵庫れいぞうこに水みずがあります。

reizouko ni mizu ga arimasu.

What do you think this sentence means?

There is water in the refrigerator.

Why it means that

Say that a non-living thing exists or is available

Use あります for inanimate things such as objects, places, events, or time. In some contexts it can also express that you have or there is something available.

Example

机つくえの上うえに本ほんがあります。

tsukue no ue ni hon ga arimasu.

There is a book on the desk.

How it is built

Thing + が + あります

Mark the thing that exists with が and end with あります.

Inanimate noun+が+あります
Examples

公園こうえんにベンチがあります。

kouen ni benchi ga arimasu.

There is a bench in the park.

時間じかんがあります。

jikan ga arimasu.

I have time.

明日あした、テストがあります。

ashita, tesuto ga arimasu.

There is a test tomorrow.

Compare

Three common uses of あります

あります does more than state where an object is located. It is also used to express having something available, and scheduled events.

  • Physical location, 部屋

    部屋へやにテレビがあります。

    heya ni terebi ga arimasu.

    There is a TV in the room.

    部屋 indicates where the physical item is located.

  • Possession, 車

    車くるまがあります。

    kuruma ga arimasu.

    I have a car.

    Japanese uses あります where English says “to have”.

  • Scheduled event, 日曜日

    日曜日にちようびにパーティーがあります。

    nichiyoubi ni paatii ga arimasu.

    There is a party on Sunday.

    日曜日に places the gathering or event in time.

Examples

今日きょうは時間じかんがあります。

kyou wa jikan ga arimasu.

I have time today.

質問しつもんがあります。

shitsumon ga arimasu.

I have a question.

日本語にほんごの辞書じしょがあります。

nihongo no jisho ga arimasu.

I have a Japanese dictionary.

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