State of Completion (てある)

Not to be confused with the present participle, this structure combines the te form with the verb “to exist” for inanimate objects.

【Verb: te Form】ある

Whereas the te form and the verb いる creates the present participle, the te form with ある expresses that an action has been completed. In other words, you’ve done the action and then it exists.

準備じゅんびしている。

Preparing.

準備じゅんびしてある。

The preparation is done [the preparation is in a state of completion].

This is not to be confused with the simple past tense of the verb; although very often the meaning is essentially the same. There are, however, two important difference.

1. This structure can only be used with transitive verbs because it expresses a state of completion regarding an action that someone has taken (not necessarily yourself).
2. Because we are using the verb “to exist” we must use が as the object particle.

鞄かばんをデスクの上うえに置おきました。

I put the bag on top of the desk.

鞄かばんがデスクの上うえに置おいてあります。

The bag is on top of the desk.

This structure is often used with the verb “to put” (as above) and the verb “to write” as below:

「立入禁止たちいりきんし」と書かいてある表示ひょうじを掛かける。

Hang up a sign saying, “Do not enter”.