Existence Verbs: いる / ある (Imasu / Arimasu)
The "There is / Have" family. The verb changes based on whether the subject is alive or not. This is the "Breathing Test": if it breathes on its own, use いる / います.
The Big Picture Table
| Form | Meaning | Living | Non-living |
|---|---|---|---|
| Present Affirmative | "There is / Exists" | いる iru | ある aru |
| Present Negative | "There isn't" | いない inai | ない nai |
| Polite Present Affirmative | "There is" (formal) | います imasu | あります arimasu |
| Polite Present Negative | "There isn't" (formal) | いません imasen | ありません arimasen |
| Past Affirmative | "There was" | いた ita | あった atta |
| Past Negative | "There wasn't" | いなかった inakatta | なかった nakatta |
| Polite Past Affirmative | "There was" (formal) | いました imashita | ありました arimashita |
| Polite Past Negative | "There wasn't" (formal) | いませんでした imasen deshita | ありませんでした arimasen deshita |
The Golden Rule
If it breathes on its own → いる (iru) / います (imasu)
People, animals, insects, ghosts, robots with personality...
If it DOESN'T breathe → ある (aru) / あります (arimasu)
Tables, books, cars, trees, events, ideas, money, plants!
⚠️ Exception: Dead animals = ある (aru) because they no longer breathe!
Living Thing: Cat (ねこ — neko)
Neko ga iru.
There's a cat. / I have a cat.
Neko ga imasu.
There's a cat. (polite)
Neko ga inai.
There's no cat.
Neko ga imasen.
There's no cat. (polite)
Neko ga ita.
There was a cat.
Neko ga imashita.
There was a cat. (polite)
Neko ga inakatta.
There was no cat.
Neko ga imasen deshita.
There was no cat. (polite)
Non-Living Thing: Book (ほん — hon)
Hon ga aru.
There's a book. / I have a book.
Hon ga arimasu.
There's a book. (polite)
Hon ga nai.
There's no book.
Hon ga arimasen.
There's no book. (polite)
Hon ga atta.
There was a book.
Hon ga arimashita.
There was a book. (polite)
Hon ga nakatta.
There was no book.
Hon ga arimasen deshita.
There was no book. (polite)
Two Meanings: "Exist" vs "Have"
Emphasizes existence
Neko ga imasu.
There is a cat.
Emphasizes possession
Watashi wa neko ga imasu.
I have a cat.
Special Uses (Events / Weather / Abstract)
Ashita, tesuto ga arimasu.
There's a test tomorrow.
Kyou, kaigi ga arimasu.
There's a meeting today.
Mondai ga aru.
There's a problem.
Jikan ga aru.
There is time. / I have time.
Real-Life Dialogues
At a pet store
Customer
Inu ga imasu ka?
Do you have dogs?
Seller
Hai, imasu.
Yes, we do.
Looking for keys
A
Watashi no kagi ga arimasu ka?
Is my key there?
B
Iie, arimasen.
No, it's not there.
At a restaurant
Customer
Bejitarian menyuu ga arimasu ka?
Is there a vegetarian menu?
Waiter
Sumimasen, arimasen.
Sorry, there isn't.
More Examples
Inu ga imasu.
There is a dog. / I have a dog.
Tori ga imasu.
There is a bird.
Tomodachi ga imasu.
I have a friend.
Kazoku ga imasen.
I don't have family here.
Kuruma ga arimasu.
There is a car. / I have a car.
Okane ga arimasu.
I have money.
Jikan ga arimasen.
I don't have time.
Pasokon ga arimashita.
There was a PC.