Structure
Noun + がある
(1) + Noun
(1) のある
Details
Part of Speech
Expression
Word Type
Noun
Register
Standard
About がある + Noun
In this expression, がある has the role of describing the noun that follows it. The description that it is giving is '(A) がある (B)' = '(B) has/with (A)'. This type of phrase is called a relative clause (something that describes a noun), and behaves similarly to an adjective.
In English, a relative clause would require a pronoun such as 'who' 誰, 'which' どれ, 'that' それ・あれ, 'where' どこ. However, these types of words are not required in Japanese, and the noun will follow がある directly.
Caution
In a relative clause, because (A) is describing (B), (B) will be considered the 'main topic/subject'. This means that は will generally not be used in place of が. However, の can be used instead of が, as showing a relationship between (A) and (B) is one of the main functions of の.
Synonyms
Examples
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ベッドがある部屋。
A room that has a bed.
たくさん休みがある5月が好き。
I like the month of May with its many holidays.
綺麗な池がある公園。
A park with a beautiful pond.
家がある人。
People who have a house.
冷蔵庫がある台所。
A kitchen with a refrigerator.
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Grammar: Qualifying/Modifying Nouns
NihonOnTheGo
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[DBJG] A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar
Page 376 - Relative Clause
Tae Kim's Japanese Grammar Guide
Page 63
みんなの日本語 I
Page 62 [CH 9]
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がある + Noun – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (22 in total)
machinaeZER0
Is the がある here “the same” as がある/がいる (to be/there is)? And if so, is there ever an instance where がいる would be used in a similar manner? (Hopefully this question makes sense - I know がある is for non-living things and がいる is for living ones, but that may only be relevant when not used in this type of clause (and/or I haven’t gotten to the がいる version yet).
Thanks!
casual
Yes, it’s the same がある, just used as a relative clause modifying a noun. And yes, you can also use がいる in a relative clause in the same way. Or pretty much any other verb.
For example, from 安達としまむら (https://learnnatively.com/book/d55ed32253/):
遠ざかっていく日野たちのいる橋の方を一瞥してから、しまむらが笑った。
Shimamura glanced in the direction of the bridge where Hino and her friend were riding away, and laughed.
Here 日野たち are people, and so we see のいる=がいる being used to describe the bridge in question.
machinaeZER0
Thank you, this is super helpful!
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