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います

there is, have (people and animals)

Place に + person/animal が + います

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います is the "there is" for living things that move by themselves: people and animals. 公園に犬がいます, "there's a dog in the park". Things use あります.

Like あります, it also means "have", for people: 兄が二人います, "I have two older brothers"; 彼女がいません, "I don't have a girlfriend".

The line is about being alive and moving on your own, not about size or importance. A fish in a tank is います; a tree is あります. A taxi waiting outside is often いる too, since there's a driver in it.

Plain form: いる. Negative: いない.

Register: Polite. Plain: いる, negative いない.

Examples

  • 公園こうえんに犬いぬがいます。

    There's a dog in the park.

  • 教室きょうしつに先生せんせいがいません。

    The teacher isn't in the classroom.

  • 私わたしは兄あにが二人ふたりいます。

    I have two older brothers.

  • 田中たなかさんは今いま、二階にかいにいます。

    Mr Tanaka is upstairs right now.

  • 家いえに猫ねこがいるよ。

    We've got a cat at home.

  • 池いけに魚さかながいます。

    There are fish in the pond.

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