Translated examples
机の上に本があります。
There is a book on the desk.
駅の近くに銀行があります。
There is a bank near the station.
かばんの中にペンがあります。
There is a pen inside the bag.
家の前に公園があります。
There is a park in front of my house.
Meaning
〜があります means there is or there are. It is used for things, buildings, places, plants, events, and other nouns that are not people or animals.
Formation
Put the noun before が and add あります. If you want to say where it exists, put the place expression before に. For example, 机の上に本があります means there is a book on the desk.
Usage
Use this pattern when introducing the existence of something as new information. It is common when describing a room, a town, a map, or what is inside a bag.
Nuance
The particle が highlights the thing that exists. The focus is usually on the noun after the place expression, not on the place itself.
Comparison
〜があります is for non-living nouns. For people and animals, use 〜がいます. When you want to say where a known thing is, use the は pattern: 本は机の上にあります.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is using あります for animals or people. Say 犬がいます, not 犬があります. Another mistake is replacing が with を; existence patterns use が, not を.
Related Grammar
Arimasu vs Imasu: Existence, Location, and に vs で
Use あります to describe ordinary objects and plants, and います for people and animals in the basic existence pattern. 木があります is therefore normal even though a tree is alive.
〜がいます
〜がいます (ga imasu) means that a person or animal exists somewhere. It is used for living beings such as teachers, friends, dogs, and cats.
〜は〜にあります
〜は〜にあります is used to say where a known thing, building, or place is located. It often translates as is at or is in.
場所に〜があります／います
場所に〜があります／います is used to say that something or someone exists in a place. The place comes first, followed by に.
に
に (ni) points to a specific time, destination, location of existence, or person related to an action. It is one of the most important N5 particles.