ある (resultant state)

• Reading: ある
• Romaji: aru
• Formation: Object + が + Transitive Verb て-form + ある/あります

Meaning

Used after the て-form of a transitive verb to indicate that something has been done and the resulting state remains. This pattern emphasises the current condition that resulted from a completed action, rather than the action itself.

The pattern Verb て-form + ある describes a state that exists because someone performed an action earlier. For example, 窓が開けてある means 'the window has been opened (and is still open),' implying someone opened it intentionally. This contrasts with ている, which focuses on the ongoing action or habitual state, and with the intransitive + ている pattern (窓が開いている), which simply describes the state without implying a deliberate actor. Learners often confuse てある with ている; the key difference is that てある always implies a purposeful prior action by someone and uses transitive verbs, while ている can describe ongoing actions, habits, or states with both transitive and intransitive verbs.

Examples

1. 壁にポスターが貼ってある。 A poster has been put up on the wall.
2. テーブルの上にお皿が並べてあります。 Plates have been arranged on the table.
3. ドアに名前が書いてある。 A name has been written on the door.

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, written, everyday

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• エアコンがつけてあります。
• 黒板に明日の予定が書いてある。
• お弁当が作ってある。

Don't Say

• 窓が開いてある。(Using an intransitive verb with てある — 開く is intransitive; use 開けてある with transitive 開ける) → 窓が開けてある。
• ご飯を作ってある。(Marking the object with を instead of が — in てある constructions the object takes が) → ご飯が作ってある。

Origin & History

This usage developed from the combination of the て-form connective and the existential ある, grammaticalising into a resultant-state marker during the medieval Japanese period.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal