てあるhas been done, and is still so
Someone did it on purpose, and it is still that way. It is how you say where a thing has been put, what a sign says, and that something is ready.
left that way
The window has been left slightly open, so please do not close it.
How to form it
Verb in the て-form + ある
The verb is one that a person does to a thing: 開ける, 置く, 書く. Not one that happens by itself, like 開く. Polite あります, past あった, negative ない.
What you find
You can see that a person arranged it. Who did it is mostly left unsaid, and the thing usually takes が or は. Where English just says "there is", Japanese often says how it got there: put (置いて), stuck up (貼って), hung (掛けて).
The documents are on the desk.
There is a map on the wall.
When I went into the room, the heating had been turned on.
What it says: 書いてある
English says a sign "says" something. Japanese says it is written there, with と after the words.
Excuse me, what does it say here?
It says "We are closed today."
There's no name on this umbrella, is there?
It's ready: 予約してある
This is for things done ahead of time. Often you are the one who did it, and the thing can keep the を it takes with the plain verb.
The chairs are already set out.
I have already bought the tickets.
I have called a taxi.
開いている, 開けてある, 開けておく
One window, three things to say about it.
The window has been left open.
Someone opened it for a reason.
I'll leave the window open.
The doing: you open it, or leave it open, for later.
ている goes on 開く, what the window does. てある and ておく go on 開ける, what a person does to it.
The usual slip is to put てある on the wrong verb of the two.
Not said: 窓が
(The window has been left open.)
開けてあります, or just 開いています.
Not said: 電気が
(The light has been left on.)
つけてあります.
| That is how it is | Someone did it | |
|---|---|---|
| open | 開いている | 開けてある |
| shut | 閉まっている | 閉めてある |
| on | ついている | つけてある |
| inside | 入っている | 入れてある |
| lined up | 並んでいる | 並べてある |
Close neighbours
ているN5
How things are now, after a verb that happens by itself.
The light is on, so someone is still there.
ておくN4
Getting it done ahead of time. Afterward, てある is how it stands.
I'll set the chairs out ready for tomorrow's information session.
っぱなしN3
Left that way because nobody dealt with it, not because anyone meant it.
The door has been left open.
開く・開けるN4
The pairs of verbs behind the choice: one happens, the other is done by someone.
The door blew open in the wind.
Check yourself
1Which one fits?
寒いので、
Choose an answer to see why.
2What does this mean?
ドアに
Choose an answer to see why.
More detail
書いてある or 書かれている?
Both mean it is written there. 書かれている is what you read in reports and articles. In conversation people say 書いてある.
More sentences
There is a sign on the door that says "In Use".
The files you need are saved in the shared folder.
The meeting place is marked with a red circle on the map.
There are no spare desks in this room.
There are drinks chilling in the fridge.
Dinner is made, so go ahead and eat.
I have already told Tanaka.