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Look at the picture: the tickets have already been bought. Use 「てあります」 to say the preparations are complete.

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Lesson notes · ≈ 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

  1. Look at the picture: the tickets have already been bought. Use 「てあります」 to say the preparations are complete.

    Look at the picture: the tickets have already been bought. Use 「てあります」 to say the preparations are complete.

  2. Look again at the right: the tickets are still in hand. The focus is on the completed action’s result still being useful now.

    Look again at the right: the tickets are still in hand. The focus is on the completed action’s result still being useful now.

  3. 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.

    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.

  4. 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.

    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.

  5. 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.

    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.

    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.

    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.

    「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

    • チケットちけっとchikettoはわwaもうmou買っかっkatてteありますarimasuよ。よyo

      I've already bought the tickets.

    In a conversation

    • A
      旅行りょこうの準備じゅんびはわ終わりましたおわりましたか。か

      A: Are your travel preparations done?

    • B
      はい、はいホテルほてるはわ予約よやくしてありますよ。よ

      B: Yes, the hotel has already been reserved.

    • A
      そうですか。かパスポートぱすぽーとは。わ

      A: I see. What about the passport?

    • B
      パスポートぱすぽーとも準備じゅんびしてあります。あります

      B: The passport is ready too.

    Check yourself

    1. Level 1 · Recognise

      Which sentence is correct?

    2. Level 1 · Recognise

      Listen and choose the meaning

    3. Level 2 · Build

      Put the words in order

      The suitcase has already been bought.

    4. 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

    • 〜ましょうかsuggestion or offer
    • 〜し、〜adding reasons or features
    • 〜のは、〜ですhighlighting or evaluating
    • 〜そうですprediction from signs
    • 〜ておきますprepare in advance
    • 〜てありますpreparation already complete
    Previous〜ておきます

    Keep practising

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