8.4 Describing Existence: あります(ari masu) and います (i masu)
In this module, we will focus on describing the existence of both inanimate objects and animate beings, by using the sentence structures X があります (X ga ari masu) and X がいます (X ga i masu), respectively.
Using あります and います to indicate existence
The verbs あります (ari masu) and います (i masu) are the polite forms of the dictionary verbs ある (aru) and いる (iru), both meaning ‘to exist’.
Distinguishing between あります and います
The choice between あります and います depends on whether the subject is non-sentient (e.g., inanimate objects, events, concepts) or sentient (e.g., people, animals).
Key Points
あります (arimasu) – The polite form of ある (aru), meaning ‘to exist‘.
✔ Used for non-sentient subjects, such as:
- Inanimate objects (e.g., books, furniture)
- Events and scheduled activities (e.g., meetings, festivals)
- Abstract concepts (e.g., time, opportunities)
Example:
- 宿題（しゅくだい）があります。(Shukudai ga ari masu.) — I have homework.
- 予定（よてい）がありますか。(Yotei ga ari masu ka.) — Do you have any plans?
います (imasu) – The polite form of いる (iru), meaning ‘to exist’.
✔ Used for sentient subjects, such as:
- People (e.g., teachers, friends, family)
- Animals (e.g., dogs, cats, birds)
Examples:
- 妹（いもうと）がいます。 (Imouto ga i masu.) — I have a younger sister.
- 先生（せんせい）がいます。 (Sensei ga i masu.) — There is a teacher.
Remember: While both express existence, あります can also indicate having scheduled events or abstract concepts, while います is used for relationships and living beings.
Additionally, unlike English, these verbs remain the same regardless of whether the subject is singular or plural.
Exceptions to あります and います
In general, あります is used for non-sentient nouns, while います is used for sentient beings. However, there are some exceptions:
Plants: Although plants are living organisms, they are generally considered non-sentient in Japanese and take あります instead of います.
Example:
- 木（き）があります。 (Ki ga ari masu.) — There is a tree.
Microorganisms and immobile life forms: Tiny life forms such as bacteria, algae or fungi are often treated as non-sentient and use あります in certain contexts.
Example:
- バクテリア（ばくてりあ）があります。 (Bakuteria ga ari masu.) — There are bacteria.
Inanimate groups of living beings: Some collective entities made up of living things, such as a forest (森: もり) full of trees or a coral reef, are generally treated as non-sentient wholes and use あります.
Example:
- 森があります。 (Koko ni ōkina mori ga ari masu.) — There is a forest.
NOTE: While living things typically take います, immobile or collective life forms are often treated as non-sentient and use あります instead.
Forming sentences
When forming sentences to indicate the existence of something with these verbs, we typically use the particle が (ga) after the subject. Although は (wa) can be used in broader contexts, が is more suitable for emphasising the presence or existence of the subject.
In addition, these verbs are often paired with the particle に (ni) to indicate the location of the subject or when an event occurs. The location or topic particle に is placed before the noun that specifies the place or time.
Here are the sentence patterns to follow:
Sentence pattern 1 :
It is used to indicate the existence of non-sentient subjects at a specific location.
Place に Non-sentient Subject があります。
Example:
東京（とうきょう）に東京スカイツリー（すかいつりい）があります。
Toukyou ni Toukyou Sukaitsurii ga ari masu.
There is (a building/landmark called) Tokyo Skytree in Tokyo.
Sentence pattern 2:
It is used to indicate the existence of sentient subjects at a specific location.
Place に Sentient Subject がいます。
Example:
北海道（ほっかいどう）にアイヌ（あいぬ）の人（ひと）たちがいます。
Hokkaidou ni Ainu no hito-tachi ga i masu.
There are Ainu people in Hokkaido.
Sentence pattern 3:
There are two ways to indicate when an event will occur, depending on whether you are referring to a specific or relative time.
1) Specific point in time:
Specific Time に Event があります。
Use the particle に to indicate the exact time when an event takes place. This includes specific points in time such as times of the day, days of the week and months of the year.
Example:
月曜日（げつようび）に仕事（しごと）があります。
Getsu-youbi ni shigoto ga ari masu.
I have work on Monday.
2) Relative time:
Relative Time [no particle] Event があります。
Relative times refer to times that are relative to the time that they are used, such as ‘today’ (vs. ‘on 20 May 2025’), ‘this month’ (vs. ‘in July’) or ‘in the morning’ (vs. ‘at 10 AM’). These words are not followed by the time particle に, which is only used after specific points in time. Here are examples of relative times:
- 今週（こんしゅう）テスト（てすと）があります (There is a test this week).
- 朝（あさ）クラス（くらす）があります (There is a class in the morning).
In contrast, specific dates, such as exact hours or calendar days, require the particle に (e.g., 四時[よじ]に, 木曜日[もくようび]に, 九月[くがつ]に).
Example:
毎週（まいしゅう）仕事があります。
Maishuu shigoto ga ari masu.
There is work every week.
Usage in sentences
Just like other sentence patterns covered in this textbook, があります and がいます can be used in negative sentences and questions. They follow the same rules as sentences with ます forms, which you’re already familiar with!
1. Negative sentences
- がありません／がいません: Change ます to ません.
Examples:
日本（にほん）の八月（はちがつ）は夏休（なつやす）みですから、学校（がっこう）がありません。
Nihon no hachi-gatsu wa natsu-yasumi desu kara, gakkou ga ari masen.
Because it’s summer vacation in August in Japan, there is no school.
2. Closed-ended questions
To form closed-ended questions using あります or います , simply add the particle か (ka) to the end of the statement.
Examples:
火曜日（かようび）に学校（がっこう）がありますか。
Ka-youbi ni gakkou ga ari masu ka.
Is there school on Tuesday?
レストラン（れすとらん）の中（なか）にスタッフ（すたっふ）がいますか。
Resutoran no naka ni sutaffu ga i masu ka.
Are there any staff members inside the restaurant?
3. Responding to がありますか / がいますか questions
When answering closed-ended questions using あります (for inanimate objects, events, or concepts) and います (for people and animals), you drop the particle が and respond with either:
- はい、あります／います。(Hai, ari masu / i masu.) — Yes, it is/they are there. / Yes, X has/have.
- いいえ、ありません／いません。 (Iie, ari masen / i masen.) — No, it is/they are not there. / No, X doesn’t/don’t have.
NOTE: In responses, the particle が is typically omitted for simplicity.
Key points
- あります: This is the polite form of ある, meaning ‘to exist’, used with non-sentient subjects, such as inanimate objects, events, concepts or phenomena.
- います: This is the polite form of いる, meaning ‘to exist’, used with sentient subjects, such as people and animals.
- Both can express possession, but あります is used for things or scheduled events, while います is used for people and animals.
- The particle が specifies the existence or presence of the subject in a particular location or at a particular time. は might be used in other contexts but が is more appropriate for emphasising the subject’s existence or presence.
- あります and います can be easily transformed into their negative and question forms by following the standard transformation rules for ます verbs.
- When responding to closed-ended questions using あります and います, drop the particle が and respond with either はい、あります／います for ‘Yes, it is/they are there’, or いいえ、ありません／いません for ‘No, it is/they are not there’.
Exercise 1
