⚖️ ある vs. いる
Meet the plain forms of あります and います.
Coco-sensei
Learn
ある is the plain form of あります; いる is the plain form of います. The basic choice stays the same: いる for people and animals, ある for objects and plants.
You hear plain forms in casual conversation with people you are close to. They also appear inside longer sentences, even when the overall sentence is polite. Recognizing them helps you follow Japanese beyond simple ます sentences.
Remember that plants normally use ある: 花 が ある and 木 が ある. The distinction is not simply “alive” versus “not alive.”
Examples
部屋 に 犬 が いる。
There is a dog in the room.
机 の 上 に 本 が ある。
There is a book on the desk.
公園 に 猫 が いる。
There is a cat in the park.