Grammar Info

N5 Lesson 4: 12/13

がある + (Noun)Noun (B) that has Noun (A), Noun (B) with Noun (A)

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(だれ), '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.

  • 漫画(まんが)はある本屋(ほんや)。(Unnatural Japanese, unless you're making the point that there is something else that this bookstore doesn't have. This is an advanced use of は)
    A book store that... well... it has manga.
  • 綺麗(きれい)な川(かわ)のある山(やま)。(Natural Japanese, but less common than が)
    A mountain with a beautiful river.

Examples

--:--

    ベッドがある部屋(へや)。

    A room that has a bed.

    たくさん休(やす)みがある５(ご)月(がつ)が好(す)き。

    I like the month of May with its many holidays.

    綺麗(きれい)な池(いけ)がある公園(こうえん)。

    A park with a beautiful pond.

    家(いえ)がある人(ひと)。

    People who have a house.

    冷蔵庫(れいぞうこ)がある台所(だいどころ)。

    A kitchen with a refrigerator.

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がある + Noun – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (22 in total)

  • machinaeZER0

    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

    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

    machinaeZER0

    Thank you, this is super helpful!

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