Meaning & usage
いる expresses that a person or animal exists in a place or is present there, like saying there is or someone is somewhere. It follows the pattern of place marked with に plus the person or animal marked with が, as in 学校にいる or 猫がいる, and conjugates as an ichidan verb such as います, いた, and いない. It is not used for objects, buildings, or plants, where ある is required instead.
Example sentences 7
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すぐ後ろにいるからね。
I'm right behind you.
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ロンドンにいました。
I was in London.
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今までずっとどこにいたの？
Where have you been all this while?
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トビウオがいるよ。
There are flying fish.
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どうしてまだ学校にいるの？
Why are you still at school?
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このクラスに男子は何人いますか？
How many boys are there in this class?
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ぼくがここにいるのは来いと言われたからだ。
The reason I'm here is because I was asked to come.
In past JLPT papers
This came up in 2 past exam questions.
