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JLPT N5 · Verb forms

てある (te aru)

～てある — a state left as a result of someone’s action

In short · Transitive verb て-form + ある describes a state that exists because someone did it on purpose: ‘has been done (and stays that way)’. The thing becomes the subject marked with が. It is often used to describe what you see in front of you.
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Pattern

  • ものが＋他動詞て形＋ある thing + が + transitive verb te-form + ある (絵がかけてある)
  • 場所に＋ものが＋てある place に + thing が + てある (壁に絵がかけてある)

Structure

Use a verb that takes an object (a transitive verb): かける, 置く, 貼る. Make the て-form and add ある. The thing, which was the object of the action, becomes the subject with が: 絵がかけてある.

Nuance

It implies someone did this on purpose, and the result is still there. The person who did it is not mentioned. It is used to describe what you see: 机の上に花が置いてあります.

Compared with ている

With an intransitive verb, ている shows a state (ドアが開いている, ‘the door is open’). With a transitive verb, てある shows a state someone made (ドアが開けてある, ‘the door has been opened (by someone)’).

Examples

  • 壁（かべ）に絵（え）がかけてあります。

    Kabe ni e ga kakete arimasu.

    A picture has been hung on the wall.

    Someone hung it, and it is still there.

  • 机（つくえ）の上（うえ）に花（はな）が置（お）いてあります。

    Tsukue no ue ni hana ga oite arimasu.

    A flower has been placed on the desk.

    置く → 置いて + あります.

  • ドアに紙（かみ）が貼（は）ってあります。

    Doa ni kami ga hatte arimasu.

    A paper has been put up on the door.

    貼る → 貼って + あります.

Common mistakes

  • Use a transitive verb and mark the thing with が: 絵がかけてある, not 絵をかけてある.
  • Don't use it with intransitive verbs like 開く; say ドアが開いている.

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