Structure
(Transitive) Verb[て]+ ある
Details
Register
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 - 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.
Synonyms
Examples
--:--
Get more example sentences!
Premium users get access to 12 example sentences on all Grammar Points.
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.
Self-Study Sentences
Study your own way!
Add sentences and study them alongside Bunpro sentences.
Online
How to use 〜てある
MaggieSensei
What's the difference between ~てある and ~た (past form)?
JStackExchange
Offline
Genki II 1st Edition
Page 184
みんなの日本語 II
Page 36 [CH 30]
Genki II 2nd Edition
Page 214
[DBJG] A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar
Page 2 & 76
Tae Kim's Japanese Grammar Guide
Page 119
Track Resources!
Bunpro tracks all of the resources you’ve visited, and offers relevant bookmarks of physical books to help with offline tracking.
てある – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (10 in total)
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
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?
Got questions about てある ? Join us to discuss, ask, and learn together!
Join the Discussion