〜がある(所有)

N5

〜がある(所有)

-ga aru (possession)

〜がある (possession)

N5

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Explanation

To say you have something in Japanese, you often use 〜がある (for non-living things) and 〜がいる/います (for living things). This grammar point focuses on the possession use of がある. Key points: • Noun が あります = I/you/we have (non-living) • Common for belongings: 車, 本, お金 • Subject (I/you) is often omitted • For people/animals, use がいます instead Example: “車があります” means “I have a car.” “時間があります” means “I have time.” This is different from English because Japanese does not use “have” directly. Instead, it says that the thing exists with you. If you need to be clear about the owner, you can add 私は or 彼は: “私は車があります.” But in conversation, the subject is often understood from context. Practice with common items: 本があります, いすがあります, お金があります. Then use います for people or pets: 妹がいます.

Structure

Pattern
(Person は) + Noun が + あります
Person はOwner (often omitted)
Examples: 私 は, 兄 は
Noun がThing owned
Examples: 車が, 本が, 時間が
ありますExist/possess (non-living)
Examples: あります

Examples

Example 1
車があります。
Kuruma ga arimasu.
I have a car.
Breakdown
car
subject marker
ありますhave/exist (non-living)
Note: Possession
Example 2
時間があります。
Jikan ga arimasu.
I have time.
Breakdown
時間time
subject marker
ありますhave/exist
Note: Common expression
Example 3
私は本があります。
Watashi wa hon ga arimasu.
I have a book.
Breakdown
I
topic marker
book
subject marker
ありますhave/exist
Note: Owner stated
Example 4
お金があります。
Okane ga arimasu.
I have money.
Breakdown
お金money
subject marker
ありますhave/exist
Note: Possession

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