Tendency and state

～てある

has been ~ed (and remains so); is ~ed

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How to form it

Verb (transitive, て-form) + ある

Register: Neutral

Explanation

Describes a state that results from someone's deliberate action, done in advance.

The thing that was acted on is the topic or subject (が). It suggests someone did this on purpose. It is not usually used with intransitive verbs.

Examples

窓が開けてある。
まどがあけてある。
The window has been left open.
机の上に、メモが置いてある。
つくえのうえに、メモがおいてある。
A memo has been left on the desk.
壁に、絵が掛けてあります。
かべに、えがかけてあります。
A picture is hung on the wall.
ホテルは、もう予約してある。
ホテルは、もうよやくしてある。
The hotel has already been booked.

Compare with

～ておく: ておく is the action of preparing; てある describes the result state.
～まま: まま shows a state continuing unchanged, often not on purpose.

Common mistakes

Using it with an intransitive verb such as 開く (窓が開いてある). Use ている there.