あります・います
Saying “there is …”
For objects that can’t move on their own.
ほんが あります = there is a book
For people and animals.
ねこが います = there is a cat
Add place + に to say where it exists.
へやに ねこが います
ねこが います。
います — a cat is alive!
あります と います
Pick あります for objects, います for people & animals. Add place + に to say where. 🔊 Tap any example to hear it.
Why が here, and not は? Because these sentences are announcing something new — “there's a cat!” — rather than talking about a cat you both already have in mind. あります and います take が. That's all you need for now; は and が get compared properly in Unit 35.
“There is ~” — for things (non-living).
“There is ~” — for people & animals (living).
“At ~, there is ~.” The place takes に — here に means “at / in a place”.
いちの ことば
To say exactly where, use a position word. The pattern is object の position. The cat (ねこ) shows where it is in each picture. 🔊 Tap a tile to hear it.
Position words pin down where exactly: うえ = on/above, なか = inside, した = under. Pattern: Place の Position に.
クイズ
Look at the picture — where is the cat? Pick the position word that matches.
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