〜てある
てある
auxiliary
has been done (and left that way)
1.
has been done and left in that state
Te-form of a transitive verb plus ある. Describes a state that continues because someone deliberately produced it. The doer is not named, but their intention is felt: 窓が開けてある means someone opened the window on purpose and left it open.
窓が開けてある。
The window has been left open.
壁に地図が貼ってある。
A map is put up on the wall.
会議の資料はもう印刷してあります。
The materials for the meeting have already been printed.
冷蔵庫に飲み物が冷やしてあるから、自由に飲んでください。
There are drinks chilled in the fridge, so please help yourself.
Only transitive verbs take 〜てある, and the object usually shifts from を to が: 窓を開ける becomes 窓が開けてある.
FORMS:
- 書いてある: is written (and left that way)
- 書いてあります: polite
- 書いてあった: had been written
- 書いてない: is not written (contracted, common in speech)
SIMILAR FORMS:
- 〜ている: with an intransitive verb, describes the same state without implying anyone did it (窓が開いている, the window is open)
- 〜ておく: to do something in advance; 〜てある describes the state that 〜ておく leaves behind