ISORI

いる

JLPT N5:

to be (people, animals)

Says that a person or animal exists or is somewhere: "there is", "is (in a place)".

How to form it

  • Mark the place with に and the person or animal with が: 部屋(へや)に猫(ねこ)がいます (there's a cat in the room).
  • When the person is the topic, use は: 先生(せんせい)は教室(きょうしつ)にいます (the teacher is in the classroom).
  • いる is an ichidan verb: います, いない, いた.
  • It also says you have family, friends or pets: 兄(あに)が二人(ふたり)います (I have two older brothers).

Examples

部屋(へや)に猫(ねこ)がいます。

There's a cat in the room.

先生(せんせい)はどこにいますか。

Where is the teacher?

Notes

  • Plants take ある, not いる.
  • The respectful version is いらっしゃる, and the humble version is おる.

Common mistakes

  • Using いる for objects. Say 本(ほん)がある.
  • Using で for where someone is. Say 部屋(へや)にいる.

Similar meaning