いた
ita
The English word 'been' translates to the Japanese word いた (ita).
The word いた is used to describe where people or animals have been, or to indicate that a continuous state existed in the past. It is the past tense of the intransitive verb いる (iru).
Which one should you use?
Use いた to describe where people or animals have been. For inanimate objects, use あった instead.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
In polite conversation, you should replace it with いました. If you wish to express the formal idea of 'have been' in a different context, such as having visited a place, you might use 行ったことがあります.
How does it change in a sentence?
いた functions as the past tense of the intransitive verb いる (iru), which is used for the existence of animate beings or to indicate a continuous state.
How do you pronounce it?
ita
Did you know?
- The word いる has a homonym that means 'to need'. Depending on the context, a sentence using a form of いる could mean someone 'was there' or that something 'was needed'.
- If you use いた to describe a person who has passed away, it can be seen as a mistake. In those cases, specific honorific or humble forms are used to avoid the bluntness of standard existence.
- While いた describes existing in a place, adding the particle て to the root creates the form いて, which is used to ask someone to 'stay' or 'be' there.
Examples in context
- 金庫は開いていた。The safe had been opened.This sentence shows how いた can be used to describe a state that had been opened.Tatoeba #13576221 by small_snow, translation #13662941 by terrywallwork
- 探していたんですよ。I have been looking for you.This sentence uses いた to form the continuous past tense for a verb.Tatoeba #161603 by KK_kaku_, translation #252913 by CC
- 今までどこにいたの。Where have you been up to now?This sentence uses いた to ask about someone's location in the recent past.Tatoeba #172611 by tommy__san, translation #241864 by CK
- ロンドンに行ったことがあります。I have been to London.
- 私はパリに行ったことがあります。I have been to Paris.
- 彼は映画館に行ったことがありますか。Has he been to the movie theater?
- 田中さんは新しいレストランに行ったことがあるよ。Tanaka has been to the new restaurant, you know.
- 168 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yui and Yota are talking at a cafe.
- 結衣 Yuiさっきまでここにいたの？Sakki made koko ni ita no?Were you here until a moment ago?
- 陽太 Yotaうん、ずっとここにいたよ。Un, zutto koko ni ita yo.Yeah, I was here the whole time.
- 結衣 Yui全然気づかなかった。Zenzen kizukanakatta.I didn't notice you at all.
- 陽太 Yota本を読んでいたからだよ。Hon o yonde ita kara da yo.It's because I was reading a book.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
