Structure
(Transitive) Verb[て]+ ある
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有る
About てある
Like 'verb + ている', 'verb + てある ' is a structure that will convey an ongoing state. However, that is where the similarities stop. てある may only be used with transitive verbs, and highlights the object itself as being the subject of the sentence (rather than the initial person/thing that performed the action).
Because ある is being used, it highlights the object as being inanimate (or unable to undo the action that was performed on it). Due to this, てある is regularly translated as 'to be left (A)', or 'to remain (A)', where (A) is the original verb that somebody performed on the object.
が may mark the object in these sentences when the action itself involves some kind of preparation. Examples are as follows:
予約 - Reservation (requires time investment to reserve).
準備 - Preparation (requires time investment to prepare).
録音 - Recording (requires time investment to make the recording).
In situations that involve no real preparation (opening a door, for example), を will be preferred when marking the object.
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Examples
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このドアは開けてある。
This door has been left open.
テレビ台の上に置いてあるよ。
It has been placed on top of the TV stand.
明日の準備してあるんですか。
Have tomorrow's preparations been done?
明日の準備をしてあるので、もう寝ます。
I have done my preparation for tomorrow so I am going to bed.
1000年前に建てられたビルがまだ残してある。
The building that was built 1000 years ago is still standing.
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How to use 〜てある
MaggieSensei
What's the difference between ~てある and ~た (past form)?
JStackExchange
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[DBJG] A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar
Page 2 & 76
Genki II 1st Edition
Page 184
Genki II 2nd Edition
Page 214
Tae Kim's Japanese Grammar Guide
Page 119
みんなの日本語 II
Page 36 [CH 30]
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てある – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (10 in total)
Pushindawood
something is done
has been done
remaining stateStructure
- Verb[ て ] + ある
Only used with transitive verbs!
[State of an action remains]
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lbtnunes
It feels to me like, for this grammar point, there should be a parallel with である and the copulas, as it’s exactly the same idea.
Noun + [で] + ある - is (noun)
Verb[ て ] + ある - is (verb (as in the state decurring from that action))Or am I colossally wrong and there is some other nuance exists? The grammar page, especially the examples, seem to associate てある with the present perfect (and also include a subject that is implicit/unknown in the original sentence), which bothers me a bit.
s1212z
Are you suggesting to combine the grammar point? If である is a formal written replacement for だ/です、while てある is a transitive verb modifier, I would prefer the separate practice as this is quite a distinction IMO (even though both state of action vs. state of existence behave sort of similar when using ある). I haven’t had the chance to to use/read である all the much either. However, your suggestion helps me remember better so it’s a nice parallel to mention.
lbtnunes
Nonono, don’t combine it, that would be bad, especially considering である is far more basic than this grammar point. I simply suggested explaining てある through the parallel with である, emphasizing the fact that, like the copula, てある doesn’t really map to an English form all that well.
である is very common in Japanese dictionaries, which I’ve come to use more and more.
Johnathan-Weir
I’ve often seen that you’re supposed to change を to が when you make てある however several of the sentences still have を. Is this not a hard rule?
Edit: Nevermind, the Maggie link had the answer. However, it may be worthwhile to note on the grammar page that using を is somewhat of an exception for this grammar point.
Pushindawood
@Johnathan-Weir Good call! I have updated the Meaning page to include a note. Cheers!
airblaster
What is the difference to ている② | Japanese Grammar SRS?
mrnoone
@airblaster
Hey
てある implies that the human did the action, and is limited to transitive verbs (this is what implies the human subject doing the action) only. The subject is often omitted, usually because it is not known or is not important for the speaker.
ている does not have that implication, it simply a statement and the verbs do not have to be transitive (not to mention the verbs are usually intransitive with ている2);.
To sum up:
ドアは開けてある
Doors are open. implies human action.ドアが開いている
Doors are open. statement of fact, no implications.I hope it helps,
Cheersairblaster
Great explanation, thanks!
Maybe the information about it usually being used with intransitive verbs could be added to the summary of ている2?
durtle9831
Are there any reason or nuance behind the usage of を in situations where preparations are done?
It’s that the beginner-level textbooks don’t acknowledge that deviation makes me believe It’s either solely stylistic choice or too sophisticated to take care of as of right now.But if I were to make a guess it’s because the subject transfers from the preparations themselves to the thing we’re making preparations for (sorry if that makes little sense).
Zepp
In the sentence which asks for a remaining state and the hint “have~thought”
次の劇団のセリフをもう___から、早く書きたい。 [考える]Doesn’t 考えていた kinda have the same meaning as 考えてある in the sense of have~thought?
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