Grammar Info
N5 Lesson 3: 8/13

が居(い)る
To be, There is, To remain (in a state)

居る kanji use can frequently be seen

Structure
Casual
Polite
Noun + + いる
Noun + + います
Details
Part of Speech Expression
Word Type Verb
Register Standard
品詞 表現
単語の種類 動詞
使用域 一般
Information
がいる is a common construction that is simply a combination of the particle, and the verb いる. This expression means ‘to exist’, or ‘there is’, and is used in relation to living/animate things.
  • 警察(けいさつ)がいる
    There is a police officer.
  • 猫(ねこ)がいる
    There is a cat.
  • パトカーがいる
    There is a police car. (Operated by police)
Because the things being described in these examples are considered to be alive (or operated by something that is alive), いる is the verb that will be used. ある is used for non-living things.
The polite form of いる conjugates as います. Due to the る being removed, we can determine that いる is a る-Verb (Ichidan verb).
The kanji form of 居(い)る is quite common, and should be learned as early as possible to save any confusion while reading. There is no nuance difference between this expression being used with or without kanji, and is up to the preference of the writer.
  • 私(わたし)、彼女(かのじょ)が居(い)る
    I have a girlfriend.
Caution
The in がいる is often omitted in casual speech, or writing that behaves like casual speech (manga, instant messaging, etc).
  • そこ警察(けいさつ)居(い)る
    There is a cop over there.
Slow Male
Hide All
Hide Japanese
Hide English
私(わたし)がいる
I am (here).
[exist]
Play  
トムがいます
Tom is (here).
[exists]
Play  
田中(たなか)さんトムがいます
Mr. Tanaka and Tom are (there).
[exist]
Play  
Books
Genki I
Page 77
Genki I 2nd Edition
Page 107
みんなの日本語 I
Page 68 [CH 10]
[DBJG] A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar
Page 10 & 153