correct usage of 'There be ...' construction and 'somebody has something'


How do I express the meaning of "somebody has something" in Japanese?

In English the 'there be...' construction means something exists somewhere,
which equals the Japanese 〜〜があります or 〜〜がいます.

For example, "There are three people/chairs in my house." Its related
translations are:

> 家で三人がいます。  
>  家で三個の椅子があります。

My question is how to express the meaning 'somebody has something'. May I use
私は〜〜を持っている? For example, "I have three books/sons" would be:

> 私は三個本をもっている。  
>  私は三人の男の子をもっている。

Is that right? Besides that, how do I translate the meaning of 'something has
something'? For instance, "The house has a window". Can I say:

> 部屋は窓をもっている。

Is that right?




Hey I have lived in Japan for almost 10 years and have been a student of
Japanese for 15 years.

> Someone has something → (誰か)は(何か)を持っている  
>  Someone has someone → (誰か)は(誰か)がいる  
>  Something has something → (何か)に(何か)がある

For the examples you gave, you would say:

> 私は本を3冊持っている  
>  私は息子3人がいる  
>  この部屋に窓がある

持つ literally means 'to hold' so when you use it in the context of having
something, the object is usually something physical that isn't living.
Incidentally you can also use it for abstract things like having an opinion,
interest, dream, or desire (意見 興味 夢 欲望)

※If you were to use 持っている for your sons, it's not impossible to say, but it
gives off the impression that you see your sons as possessions or assets, and
not as family. But if you are talking about someone else who is not a
participant in the conversation, you can use 持っている as a way of taking stock of
the family.

> Person A: お向かいさん、一人暮らし？  
>  Does the person across the way live alone?
>
> Person B: あ、田村ご夫妻? 息子3人持ちの家族よ。  
>  Oh, the Tamuras? They have three sons.

A side note: you use the verb 飼う(かう) for when someone has pets or livestock.

