あります & います

JLPT N5 Japanese self-study　·　~10 min　·　Where things are, whether they exist

'Is there a convenience store nearby?' 'Where is my cat?' あります and います are the two most essential verbs for locating anything in the world.

What you'll learn

• Use あります for inanimate objects
• Use います for people and animals
• Ask and answer location questions

How to study “あります & います”

“あります & います” (Where things are, whether they exist) is a JLPT N5 chapter of our free Japanese self-study course, about 10 min. You learn by doing — flashcard drills and fill-in-the-blank quizzes graded on the spot — completely free, with no sign-up and no ad wall. Once it clicks, read the matching in-depth explainer over in Grammar.