How to say "have"

[roomwithamoose]

Hello all,

The book I've been following tells me to use iru (to exist) to say someone has something, for example:

Konojo wa neko o iru. (As for her, a cat exist)

However, I have been reading around and I have come to find that, using iru like that means "there is", I have also come across that there is a specific verb for "to have" (motsu), what is the proper thing to say? Thanks so much!

[Kates]

That sentence is wrong. Are you trying to say "she has a cat"?

Okay, translating IMASU and ARIMASU into 'have' is just a bad idea. It's better to think of them as "exists". So your sentence really says "As for her, a cat exists" which makes very little sense.

You're probably thinking like: Watashi no heya ni terebi ga arimasu. (I have a TV in my room.) But LITERALLY the sentence means "A TV exists in my room." In English, we are able to say "I have" because you own it. Japanese does not translate the same way.

To have a pet, Japanese say "KAU" 飼う (And no, not TO BUY 'kau' 買う）.
Kanojo ha neko wo katte imasu. = She has a cat.

MOTSU （持つ）　means to hold something, or to own--but I believe it's only for INANIMATE objects. You don't MOTSU a pet. You MOTSU a TV.
Watashi ha terebi wo motte-imasu. = I own/have a TV.
Watashi ha enpitsu wo motte-imasu. = I am holding a pencil.

I hope this straightens it out some for you. You should look at example sentences when you look stuff up in dictionaries.... >_> It'll learn you sumthin'. ^_^

[roomwithamoose]

飼う is only for "having a pet" or "keeping a pet", what if you were to say that someone has animate objects other than a pet?

[Gaijinian]

KAnojo wa neko GA iru

[Harisenbon]

roomwithamoose wrote:
飼う is only for "having a pet" or "keeping a pet", what if you were to say that someone has animate objects other than a pet?

You would use ある　（あります）。 If they are holding it in there arms もつ　（持ちます）

僕の家にパャRンがある。

Although a point of note. When you speak Japanese and are talking about having instead of existing, the が particle is dropped. It's apparently a very foreigner mistake to say が有る even when you're talking about having something.

公園に木がある - there is a tree at the park
千円ある - I have 1000 yen

[Kates]

気が有る？？　すごい！ XD

Thanks, Harisenbon. I thought I explained it pretty well, but I guess not. =/

[Harisenbon]

Crap. bad kanji. I edit now

[roomwithamoose]

Is there a reason that when speaking about animate objects you would still use aru instead of iru?

[Harisenbon]

If you are directly referring to the animate object, you always use いる.

[roomwithamoose]

Harisenbon wrote:
Although a point of note. When you speak Japanese and are talking about having instead of existing, the が particle is dropped. It's apparently a very foreigner mistake to say が有る even when you're talking about having something.

公園に木がある - there is a tree at the park
千円ある - I have 1000 yen

I know you're an expert, but for some reason everywhere I look, they use ga before aru to say I have. Are you 100% positive about not using the ga? Also, by referring directly to the object, you mean, if i were to say, I have a sister, would I use iru? Thanks so much!

[Kates]

"Everywhere I look"...? Does that mean Google searches? Are you in Japan...? And written Japanese is quite a bit different from spoken, so if you are SEEING "ga aru" then that is a lot different than HEARING Japanese people SAY "ga aru."

Yes, if you are speaking about your sister existing, you would use IRU.
Watashi ha ane/imouto ga IMASU. ANY animate object takes IRU. ("Living" doesn't really count because ARU is used for plants. Hey, Hari-san... what about germs/bacteria...? :O )

[Harisenbon]

I've always wondered about bacteria, etc. I know plants are considered inanimate, but I believe anything without consciousness is considered to be ある. let me ask real quick.

*time passes*

They are apparently living creatures. 黴菌がいる is correct.

さすが日本！:D

Oh, Kates, thanks for the vehemenent reply on my behalf. :p
As you say, spoken Japanese and written are COMPLETELY different.

And to Roomwithamoose, I never claim to be an expert, but I have lived here for a while, and studied Japaense for longer than many people on this board have been alive. I just want to help people not make the same mistakes that I made for so long. Take it or leave it.

[Kates]

*takes it* :D