Japanese grammar · ≈ JLPT N4 · Beginner 3
〜てあります~te arimasu
preparation already complete
Use 〜てあります when a purposeful preparation is complete and its result is ready now.
How it works
Look at the picture: the tickets have already been bought. Use 「てあります」 to say the preparations are complete.
Look again at the right: the tickets are still in hand. The focus is on the completed action’s result still being useful now.
This is preparation with a purpose: the tickets were bought in advance for the trip. There is no need to buy them now, so you can set off without worry.
Attach it to the verb’s て-form: 買う→買ってあります; する→してあります.
When saying that preparations are complete, the object can still take 「を」. It does not always have to change to 「が」; judge by the context.
Asked if you are ready for the trip? 「ホテルは予約してありますよ。」 says the hotel reservation is already taken care of.
And what about the passport? 「パスポートも準備してあります。」 uses 「も」 to add that it is ready too.
「買いました」 reports that the purchase happened; 「買ってあります」 emphasizes that things are ready now.
「買っておきます」 says you will buy something in advance as preparation; 「買ってあります」 says the preparation is already complete.
Example sentences
- チケットchikettoはwaもうmou買っkatてteありますarimasuよ。yo
I've already bought the tickets.
In a conversation
- A旅行の準備は終わりましたか。
A: Are your travel preparations done?
- Bはい、ホテルは予約してあります
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
The suitcase has already been bought.
Level 3 · Use
What goes in the blank?
チケットはもう買っ よ。
The tickets have already been bought.
More grammar in this theme
- 〜てありますpreparation already complete