Grammar Info

N4 Lesson 6: 11/16

～てあるSomething is done, Has been done, Remaining state

Only used with transitive verbs!

Structure

(Transitive) Verb［て］+ ある

Details

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    Standard

  • Rare Kanji

    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(よやく) - Reservation (requires time investment to reserve).

準備(じゅんび) - Preparation (requires time investment to prepare).

録音(ろくおん) - 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.

Examples

--:--

    このドアは開(あ)けてある。

    This door has been left open.

    テレビ台(だい)の上(うえ)に置(お)いてあるよ。

    It has been placed on top of the TV stand.

    明日(あした)の準備(じゅんび)してあるんですか。

    Have tomorrow's preparations been done?

    明日(あした)の準備(じゅんび)をしてあるので、もう寝(ね)ます。

    I have done my preparation for tomorrow so I am going to bed.

    1000年(ねん)前(まえ)に建(た)てられたビルがまだ残(のこ)してある。

    The building that was built 1000 years ago is still standing.

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てある – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (10 in total)

  • airblaster

    airblaster

    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

    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

    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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