GrammarN57 min read2026-02-13

あります vs います — Animate and Inanimate Use Different Verbs

Books on the table use あります, students in the classroom use います — Japanese has two words for 'exist,' and mixing them up sounds very odd.

Meaning

This grammar pattern expresses the existence of people, animals, and objects. Use あります for non-living things and います for people and animals. Both follow the structure: [Noun] + が + [あります/います]. The particle が marks the subject that exists.

Formation

Part of speechFormation
名词(非生物)名詞が あります
名词(人·动物)名詞が います

Examples

  1. じどうはんばいきが あります。
    There is a vending machine.

  2. はなが あります。
    There is a flower.

  3. やまださんが います。
    Yamada is here/present.

  4. ねこが います。
    There is a cat.

Summary

  • Use あります for non-living objects (things, items, abstract nouns)
  • Use います for living beings (people, animals)
  • Particle が marks the subject whose existence is being stated

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