JLPT N4Auxiliary

Furigana

てあるAn intentionally arranged state

てある describes a present state created by someone's intentional earlier action, often as preparation. The focus is on the condition now in place, not on the person who performed the action.

The current result is the point

This pattern asks you to look at an object now and understand its condition as the result of a purposeful earlier action. The person who acted may be obvious or unimportant, so that person is often left unstated.

机つくえの上うえに資し料りょうが置おいてあります。

The documents have been placed on the desk.

Literally: The documents are in the state resulting from having been placed on the desk.

Someone intentionally put the documents there, and their present location is what matters.

Why the affected item often takes a subject or topic marker

When reporting the earlier action, the person acting would normally mark the affected item with を. With てある, attention shifts to the affected item's present condition, so that item commonly takes が or は.

Typical prepared states

The earlier action should be purposeful and should naturally explain why the current state exists.

会かい場じょうの入いり口ぐちには案あん内ない図ずが貼はってあります。

A guide map has been posted at the entrance to the venue.

テーブルには人にん数ずう分ぶんの皿さらが出だしてあります。

Plates have been set out on the table for everyone.

冷れい蔵ぞう庫こには飲のみ物ものが冷ひやしてあります。

Drinks have been chilled in the refrigerator.

Preparing something versus finding it ready

ておく presents the preparatory action or decision. てある presents the resulting condition that is already in place.

明日あしたの説せつ明めい会かいのために、椅い子すを並ならべておきます。

I will arrange the chairs in advance for tomorrow's information session.

This sentence reports what someone will do as preparation.

椅い子すはもう並ならべてあります。

The chairs have already been arranged.

This sentence reports the prepared condition now.

Intentional arrangement versus a natural result

てある normally points back to a purposeful action done to something. A result-state with ている is broader and can describe a natural or accidental change.

受うけ付つけの花はなは、朝あさのうちに飾かざってあります。

The flowers at reception have been arranged in advance this morning.

Someone deliberately arranged the flowers.

庭にわの桜さくらが咲さいています。

The cherry trees in the garden are in bloom.

Blooming is a natural change, not an action intentionally performed on the trees.

Past and negative forms

部屋へやに入はいると、暖だん房ぼうがつけてありました。

When I entered the room, the heating had been turned on.

The past form describes the prepared state that existed at that past time.

この部屋へやには予よ備びの机つくえは置おいてありません。

No spare desk has been placed in this room.

The negative says that this arranged state is not in place.

More examples

必ひつ要ようなファイルは共きょう有ゆうフォルダーに保ほ存ぞんしてあります。

The necessary files have been saved in the shared folder.

地ち図ずには集しゅう合ごう場ば所しょが赤あかい丸まるで示しめしてあります。

The meeting place is marked with a red circle on the map.

招しょう待たい客きゃくの名な前まえは五ご十じゅう音おん順じゅんに並ならべてあります。

The guests' names have been arranged in Japanese syllabary order.

窓まどは少すこし開あけてあるので、閉しめないでください。

The window has been left slightly open, so please do not close it.

ドアには「使し用よう中ちゅう」と書かいた札ふだが掛かけてあります。

A sign saying “In Use” has been hung on the door.

駅えきに着つくと、出で口ぐちまでの道みちが床ゆかに矢や印じるしで示しめしてありました。

When I arrived at the station, the route to the exit had been marked on the floor with arrows.

てある (tearu) – An intentionally arranged state