| | ある | いる |
| ----------------------------- | -------- | -------- |
| Existence of living things | ✕ | ○ |
| Existing of non-living things | ○ | ✕ |
| Having done an action | 〜てある | |
| currently doing an action | | 〜ている |
鳥がいる = there are birds
星がある = there are stars
魚がある = there is fish (food)
魚がいる = there is fish (living, swimming)