Page 504 - Basic Japanese
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10.7. aru with people
The verb iru means ‘someone (or some animal) stays,
someone exists (in a place)’ or, after a gerund, ‘someone or
something is doing something.’ The verb aru means either
‘something exists (in a place)’ or ‘something or someone
exists (as an absolute thing, as a relative, as a role),
something or someone is available, we have something or
someone.’ So, to say ‘I have three brothers and sisters,’ you
can say Kyōdai ga san-nin arimasu as well as Kyōdai ga san-nin
imasu. To say ‘My three brothers and sisters are at home,’
you say San-nin no kyōdai ga uchi ni imasu.
10.8. … …koto ni
suru/…koto ni naru
After a modifying clause ending in the plain imperfect form,
the expression koto ni suru means ‘decides to (do
something’). After a noun, ni suru means ‘decides on.’
Eiga o mi ni iku koto ni shimashita.
We decided to go see a movie.
Eiga ni shimashita.
We decided on the movies.
The expression koto ni naru means ‘it is decided or settled
that’; koto ni natte iru means ‘it has been decided or settled or
