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Languages Study | Languages of the East | Japanese III
ÀÓÄÈÎ 324 | GRAMMAR I - 04.01
     
Grammar I - 04.01
X が あります /  います  
  X が あります means "there is/there are X (non-living things)."
The particle が introduces item X.
You can also use あります- arimasu to say that you have or own something or that and event will take place.
   
あそこに　マクドナルド　が　あります。 There's a McDonald's over there.

asoko-ni makudonarudo ga arimasu.

  
   
 

Note that arimasu is different from other verbs we have seen so far on the following three counts.
One, it calls for the particle ni, rather than de, for the place description.
Two, the place description usually comes at the beginning of the sentence.
Three, the thing description is usually followed by the particle ga rather than ha [wa].
You can also use arimasu to say that you have or own something.
テレビ　が　あります　か。 Do you have a TV?

terebi ga arimasu ka?

  
テレビ　が　ありますせん。

I don't have a TV.

terebi ga arimasen.

  
じかん　が　あります　か。 Do you have time?
jikan ga arimasu ka?  
   
  We also use arimasu when we want to say that an event will take place.

かようび　に　テスト　が　あります。

 There will be an exam on Tuesday.
kayoobi ni tesuto ga arimasu.  

あした　は　にほんご　の　クラス　が　ありません。

 There will be no Japanese class tomorrow.
ashita, nihongo no kurasu ga arimasen.  
 

When you want to present or some sentient being, rather than a thing, you need to use the verb います - imasu.
あそこに　りゅうがくせい　が　います。 There is an international student over there.
asoko-ni, ryuugakusei ga imasu.  
   
Place に

thing　が　あります

 There is / are

person　が　います
   
  imasu and arimasu are strictly for descriptions of existence and location, while desu is for description of an attribute of a person or a thing.
 

Compare:
あそこに　りゅうがくせい　が　います。 There is an international student over there.
asoko-ni, ryuugakusei ga imasu.  
メアリー　さん　は　りゅうがくせい　です。  

mearii san wa - ryuugakusei desu.