JLPT N2Mostly writtenMeasured

ものがあるthere is something … about it

Something makes an impression on you, and you say the quality is there in it: "there is something moving about it". It is a considered way to put a feeling, mostly written.

彼かの女じょの歌うたには、人ひとの心こころを打うつものがある。

There is something about her singing that moves people.

彼かれの説せつ明めいには、どうしても納なっ得とくできないものがある。

There is something about his explanation that I just can't accept.

How to form it

Plain form + ものがある

Before it comes a word for an effect or a feeling, not any action. What strikes you comes first, usually with には. A な-adjective keeps な: 複ふく雑ざつなものがある. Past: ものがあった.

Before it: 胸むねを打うつ (moving), 人ひとを引ひきつける (draws people in), 信しんじがたい (hard to believe), 寂さびしい (lonely).
Often with: どこか or 何なにか, "somehow": the quality is felt more than named.
Tone: Measured, in praise and in criticism.
Where you'll meet it: Reviews, essays, commentary, speeches. In conversation, mostly in understated remarks such as つらいものがある, "it's pretty hard".

ものだN3

Plain ものだ: how things are, "should", "used to".

人ひとは変かわるものだ。

People change.

In use

この映えい画がの静しずかなラストには、胸むねを打うつものがある。

There is something deeply moving about this film's quiet ending.

最さい近きんの彼かの女じょの成せい長ちょうには、目めを見み張はるものがある。

The way she has grown lately is quite remarkable.

目めを見み張はるものがある is a set phrase for progress that amazes you.

彼かれの主しゅ張ちょうには、にわかには信しんじがたいものがある。

There is something about his claim that is hard to believe straight away.

毎まい朝あさ五ご時じに起おきるのは、つらいものがある。

Getting up at five every morning is pretty hard going.

In conversation, after のは.

When もの is just a thing

もの is also the everyday word for "thing".

この町まちには、どうしても見みたいものがある。

There is something in this town that I really want to see.

A thing: you could name it.

この町まちには、どこか懐なつかしいものがある。

There is something nostalgic about this town.

A quality: you feel it, and can't point to it.

Close neighbours

ところがあるN2

One side of what a person is like: "has a … side", "can be". Conversation, mostly.

兄あには頑がん固こなところがある。

My older brother has a stubborn side.

Other forms built on もの

というものだN2

"That is what you'd call …": a verdict.

困こまったときに助たすけ合あうのが友ゆう情じょうというものだ。

Helping each other when things are hard: that is what friendship is.

というものではないN2

"It's not simply that …": one thing alone doesn't settle it.

謝あやまればそれでいいというものではない。

It's not as if saying sorry is all it takes.

たいものだ・てほしいものだN2

"I'd love to", "I do wish they would": a wish said with feeling.

一いち度どでいいから、オーロラを見みてみたいものだ。

Just once, I'd love to see the northern lights.

ないものか・ないものだろうかN2

"Isn't there some way to …?": you wonder, hoping or worrying.

この暑あつさ、何なんとかならないものか。

This heat: can't something be done about it?

ものなら・（よ）うものならN2

After a potential verb (会あえる), "if I only could". After a volitional form (言いおう), "if you so much as …".

会あえるものなら、亡なくなった祖そ父ふにもう一いち度ど会あいたい。

If only I could, I would see my late grandfather once more.

Check yourself

1Which sentence sounds natural?

Choose an answer to see why.

2Which one is about a real thing, not an impression?

Choose an answer to see why.

More sentences

彼かの女じょの文ぶん章しょうには、読よむ人ひとを引ひき込こむものがある。

There is something about her writing that draws readers in.

この小しょう説せつの結けつ末まつには、長ながく心こころに残のこるものがある。

There is something about this novel's ending that stays with you for a long time.

今こん回かいの対たい応おうには、誠せい実じつさに欠かけるものがある。

There is something less than sincere about the way this was handled.

あの職しょく人にんの仕し事ごとぶりには、見みる者ものを圧あっ倒とうするものがある。

There is something about the way that craftsman works that overwhelms anyone watching.

息子むすこの結けっ婚こんはうれしいが、親おやとしては複ふく雑ざつなものがある。

I'm glad my son is getting married, but as a parent I have mixed feelings.

複ふく雑ざつなものがある: mixed feelings.