Grammar Info

N4 Lesson 6: 11/16

~てあるSomething is done, Has been done, Remaining state

Only used with transitive verbs!

Structure

(Transitive) Verb[て]+ ある

Details

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    Standard

  • Rare Kanji

    有る

About てある

Like 'verb + ている', 'verb + てある' is a structure that will convey an ongoing state. However, てある may only be used with transitive verbs, and highlights the object itself as being the subject of the sentence (rather than the initial person/thing that performed the action).

As ある is being used, it highlights the object as being inanimate (or unable to undo the action that was performed on it). Due to this, てある is regularly translated as 'to be left (A)', or 'to remain (A)', where (A) is the original verb that somebody performed on the object.

Whether the sentence uses or to mark the object will depend on what is being emphasized. In cases where is used, the emphasis is on the whoever performed the action, regardless of whether they are strictly mentioned in the sentence. However, focuses more on the ongoing state of the object, without any emphasis being placed on the person who may have performed that action originally. Additionally, may mark the object in sentences where the action itself involves some kind of preparation. For example:

予約(よやく) - Reservation (requires time investment to reserve).

準備(じゅんび) - Preparation (requires time investment to prepare).

録音(ろくおん) - Recording (requires time investment to make the recording).

In situations that involve no real preparation (opening a door, for example), will be preferred when marking the object. This 'preparation' can be thought of as a time investment, where the invested time of the doer leads to the sentence more naturally expressing that person as the subject, and the object as what will take .



Examples

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    このドア()けてある

    This door has been left open.

    テレビ(だい)(うえ)()いてある

    It has been placed on top of the TV stand.

    明日(あした)準備(じゅんび)してあるんです

    Have tomorrow's preparations been done?

    明日(あした)準備(じゅんび)してあるのでもう()ます

    I have done my preparation for tomorrow so I am going to bed.

    1000(せん)(ねん)(まえ)()てられたビルまだ(のこ)してある

    The building that was built 1000 years ago is still standing.

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てある – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (12 in total)

  • Zepp

    Zepp

    In the sentence which asks for a remaining state and the hint “have~thought”
    次の劇団のセリフをもう___から、早く書きたい。 [考える]

    Doesn’t 考えていた kinda have the same meaning as 考えてある in the sense of have~thought?

  • yavamblyat

    yavamblyat

    Shouldn’t てある be translated in English using passive voice?

  • JeroenDeWachter

    JeroenDeWachter

    This grammar point talks about either が or を being used as object marker, however a couple of examples use は instead. So what is the nuance here? Thank you for clarifying.

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