Leaving a Result: 〜てある

Learn 〜てある to describe a present state that exists because someone intentionally did something earlier.

Use transitive verbs with 〜てある to describe intentionally created result states.Recognize the typical が-marked thing in 〜てある sentences.Distinguish 〜てある from 〜ている in reading.

Guided study

What 〜てある means

〜てある describes a current state that remains because somebody intentionally did the action before. The focus is not on who did it, but on the useful result that now exists.

ドアが閉めてある。

The door has been closed (and is in that state).

Someone intentionally closed it, and that result remains.

机の上に名前が書いてある。

A name has been written on the desk.

The writer focuses on the prepared result, not the actor.

Practice guides for this lesson

Use these hub pages to connect this lesson with related reading practice and grammar paths.

N4 Japanese grammar lessons

Use the N4 Japanese grammar lessons guide to connect this lesson with related reading practice.

Open guide

Japanese grammar practice

Use the Japanese grammar practice guide to connect this lesson with related reading practice.

Open guide

Japanese grammar lessons

Use the Japanese grammar lessons guide to connect this lesson with related reading practice.

Open guide