〜てある: A Resulting State (Something Has Been Done)
What it means
〜てある tells you that something is in a certain state because someone did it deliberately — and that result is still there now. You don't say who did it; you just notice the lasting result of their action.
Because the action was done to an object, 〜てある is built from transitive verbs (verbs that take a direct object, like 開ける "to open something" or 書く "to write something"). The object then becomes the topic of the sentence and takes が.
窓が開けてあります。
まどが あけて あります。
The window has been opened (someone opened it on purpose).
開ける is transitive; the result remains.
ヤッタンのレストランの予約がしてあります。
ヤッタンの レストランの よやくが して あります。
A reservation for Yattan's restaurant has been made.
壁にモチの絵がかけてある。
かべに モチの えが かけて ある。
A picture of Mochi has been hung on the wall.
How to form it
Take the transitive verb, make its て-form, and attach ある:
| Verb (transitive) | て-form | + ある | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 開ける (open) | 開けて | 開けてある | has been opened |
| 書く (write) | 書いて | 書いてある | has been written |
| 置く (put, place) | 置いて | 置いてある | has been placed |
| する (do) | して | してある | has been done |
| 買う (buy) | 買って | 買ってある | has been bought (and is ready) |
The polite form is 〜てあります; the past is 〜てあった / 〜てありました.
The が particle (and where を goes)
With 〜てある, the thing in that state is usually marked with が, because we're describing it like a state of being:
テーブルにお茶が置いてあります。
テーブルに おちゃが おいて あります。
Tea has been set out on the table.
ノートに先生の名前が書いてあった。
ノートに せんせいの なまえが かいて あった。
The teacher's name was written in the notebook.
〜てあった = the past resulting state.
When you want to emphasize the preparing action a bit more — often "I've already done X (in advance)" — you may keep を: お茶を買ってある ("I've bought the tea"). Both are correct; が highlights the state, を highlights the completed preparation.
〜てある for preparation
A very common use is saying you've prepared something ahead of time — the job is finished and the result is waiting:
切符はもう買ってあります。
きっぷは もう かって あります。
The tickets have already been bought.
ヤッタンの弟のために、おやつが作ってある。
ヤッタンの おとうとの ために、おやつが つくって ある。
Snacks have been made for Yattan's little brother.
〜てある vs 〜ている — the key contrast
This is the part to get right. Japanese has pairs of verbs: a transitive one (開ける, "open something") and an intransitive one (開く, "to be/become open"). Each leads to a different state pattern.
| Form | Core idea | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 〜ている (intransitive verb) | a natural state — no one's intention in focus | 窓が開いている = the window is open |
| 〜てある (transitive verb) | a state someone created on purpose, still remaining | 窓が開けてある = the window has been opened (deliberately) |
Both can be translated "the window is open," but the nuance differs:
窓が開いている。
まどが あいて いる。
The window is open.
開く (intransitive) + ている: just the state — maybe the wind opened it.
窓が開けてある。
まどが あけて ある。
The window has been opened (on purpose).
開ける (transitive) + ある: someone opened it for a reason.
So 〜ている (with an intransitive verb) reports a fact, while 〜てある hints that someone arranged it that way. For more on the 〜ている state pattern, see 〜ている.
Common mistakes
- Using an intransitive verb with てある. 〜てある needs a transitive verb. Say 電気がつけてある (someone turned the light on), not 電気がついてある — for the intransitive つく, use 電気がついている.
- Forgetting it implies intention. 〜てある always suggests a person did it for a purpose. To describe a plain state with no agent, use 〜ている.
- Mixing up the particles. The result-thing normally takes が (お茶が置いてある). を is possible when you stress the completed preparing action, but が is the safe default for the state.
- Confusing 〜てある with 〜ておく. 〜ておく (置く) means "do something in advance" — the action; 〜てある describes the resulting state afterward. You 予約しておく (make the reservation ahead of time), and later 予約してある (the reservation has been made).
Quick recap
- 〜てある = a state someone created on purpose, and it still remains.
- Built from a transitive verb + て-form + ある.
- The thing usually takes が; use を to stress the preparation.
- Often used for things prepared in advance (予約してある, 買ってある).
- Contrast with 〜ている + intransitive verb = a natural state with no intention in focus.
Your turn
Choose the correct 〜てある form and particle for each resulting state.
Start the 5-question drill →Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between 〜てある and 〜ている?
〜てある uses a transitive verb and means someone created the state on purpose (窓が開けてある = someone opened the window). 〜ている with an intransitive verb just reports a natural state (窓が開いている = the window is open). Both can translate as 'is open,' but てある adds intention.
Which particle does 〜てある take?
Usually が, because you're describing a state: お茶が置いてある. You can keep を when you want to stress the completed preparation: お茶を買ってある ('I've bought the tea').
Can I use 〜てある with any verb?
No — it needs a transitive verb (one that takes a direct object), like 開ける, 書く, or する. For intransitive verbs such as 開く or つく, use 〜ている instead.
How is 〜てある different from 〜ておく?
〜ておく is the action of doing something in advance (予約しておく = make a reservation beforehand). 〜てある is the resulting state afterward (予約してある = the reservation has been made and remains).