In Japanese, you’ll often hear or read the expressions 〜ている and 〜てある. They look similar, but they describe different kinds of states or actions.

Learning the difference between them will help you describe situations more naturally — whether you’re talking about something that is currently happening, done by someone, or just existing as a result of an action.

Let’s explore both forms with examples and clear explanations.

✅ What is ～ている?

Meaning

～ている is used to describe:

• An ongoing action
• A state resulting from an action
• A habitual or repeated action

Structure

Verb (て-form) + いる

Examples

• 今いま、朝あさごはんを食たべている。
  (I’m eating breakfast now.)
• ドアが開あいている。
  (The door is open.)
• 毎日まいにちジョギングをしている。
  (I jog every day.)

✅ What is ～てある?

Meaning

～てある is used when something was intentionally done by someone, and that action resulted in a current state. It’s commonly used for things that were prepared, set up, or done on purpose.

⚠️ Only transitive verbs (verbs that act on an object) can be used with ～てある.

Structure

Transitive Verb (て-form) + ある

Examples

• テーブルの上うえにケーキが置おいてある。
  (A cake has been placed on the table.)
• 壁かべにポスターがはってある。
  (A poster has been put up on the wall.)
• 名前なまえがここに書かいてある。
  (My name is written here.)

🔍 ～ている vs. ～てある – What’s the Difference?

Another comparison:

• 窓まどが開あいている。 → The window is open (just the state).
• 窓まどが開あけてある。 → Someone opened the window (for a purpose).

✍️ Practice Time

Choose the correct form: ～ている or ～てある.
Use the hint to help you decide which fits best.

1. 冷蔵庫れいぞうこにジュースが（＿＿）。
Hint: The juice was intentionally put in the fridge by someone.
→ Use: ～てある

2. 電気でんきが（＿＿）。
Hint: The light is currently on.
→ Use: ～ている

3. もうレポートが（＿＿）。
Hint: Someone has already written the report.
→ Use: ～てある

4. 本ほんがテーブルの上うえに（＿＿）。
Hint: The book was placed there on purpose.
→ Use: ～てある

5. ドアが（＿＿）。
Hint: The door is open now. No info about who did it.
→ Use: ～ている

6. 窓まどが（＿＿）。
Hint: Someone opened the window to let air in.
→ Use: ～てある

7. テレビが（＿＿）。
Hint: The TV is on. No focus on who turned it on.
→ Use: ～ている

. 壁かべに絵えが（＿＿）。
Hint: Someone hung the picture on the wall.
→ Use: ～てある

✅ Answer Key

1. 入いれてある
2. ついている
3. 書かいてある
4. 置おいてある
5. 開あいている
6. 開あけてある
7. ついている
8. かけてある

📌 Summary

• Use ～ている for actions in progress, habits, or states that resulted from an intransitive verb.
• Use ～てある when something was done on purpose and remains in that state.
• Only transitive verbs can be used with ～てある.

With these expressions, you’ll be able to describe situations more clearly and naturally in Japanese. Keep practicing, and you’ll start to recognize these forms everywhere!

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