〜が〜人／匹います~ga ~nin / ~hiki imasu
Ga nin (〜が〜人) means “count people or small animals”.
There is a white dog.
Put the counter between 「が」 and 「います」; use 人 for people and 匹 for small animals.
In the course
How it works
Count them in the picture: use 人 for people and 匹 for small animals such as dogs and cats.
Put the number between が and います: first say who is there, then how many.
Use います when talking about your family too: say how many younger brothers or older sisters you have.
In the example 弟が二人います, only the younger brothers are counted: two younger brothers, without the speaker.
Remember 二人で住んでいます: two people live together in total, including the speaker.
In the example, 二人 is read ふたり. One person is 一人, read ひとり. Remember these special readings.
There is just one white dog: 一匹 is read いっぴき, not いちひき. The small っ takes one beat.
Example sentences
- 白いshiroi犬inuがga一匹ippikiいます。imasu
There is a white dog.
- 弟otoutoが ga2 futa人ri
In a conversation
- A兄弟がいますか。
A: Do you have any siblings?
- Bはい、弟が二人います。
B: Yes, I have two younger brothers.
- Aそう
Check yourself
Level 1 · Recognise
Which sentence is correct?
Level 1 · Recognise
Listen and choose the meaning
Level 2 · Build
Put the words in order
There are five people in my family.
Level 3 · Use
What goes in the blank?
弟 公園で遊びました。
Two younger brothers played in the park.
More grammar in this theme
- 〜が〜人／匹いますcount people or small animals