Japanese "There is/are": Arimasu (Things), Imasu (People/Animals)

JLPT N5 Existence Verbs: Arimasu & Imasu (There is/are)

Use arimasu for non-living things (glasses, books), imasu for living things (people, animals). 'Ga' introduces new info, 'wa' explains known info.

あります・います arimasu・imasu

Ga Pattern: Describing Existence

Description "There is/are [noun]."

  • うちに　めがねが　あります。Uchi ni megane ga arimasu.
    (uchi = home, megane = glasses)
  • うちに　いぬが　います。Uchi ni inu ga imasu.
    (uchi = home, inu = dog)

Wa Pattern: Explaining Location

Explanation "[noun] is/are ..."

  • めがねは　うちに　あります。Megane wa uchi ni arimasu.
    (megane = glasses, uchi = home)
  • いぬは　うちに　います。Inu wa uchi ni imasu.
    (inu = dog, uchi = home)

Updated Dec. 2025