What's the difference between ～てある and ～た (past form)?


As I understand it てある is rather different to ている in that it refers to a
resultant state rather than an ongoing action.

However I wonder, what then is the practical difference between a resultant
state and a past action?

For example,

> 昼ごはんを作ってある (昼ごはんは作ってある?)
>
> 昼ごはんを作った

both mean “I made dinner” right? Is there any major difference or is it some
small nuance?

Would てある not apply if you were speaking of something you did last week and
thus the dinner has since been eaten whilst it would work if you were speaking
of the dinner you're about to eat?




> 1)「昼ごはんを作った/作りました。」= "I/Someone cooked lunch."

↑ Plain past.

> 2)「昼ごはんを作っていた/作っていました。」= "I/Someone was cooking lunch."

↑ Past progressive.

> 3)「昼ごはんを作っている/作っています。」 = "I/Someone is cooking lunch."

↑ Present progressive.

> 4)「昼ごはんを作ってある/作ってあります。」 = "I/Someone cooked lunch (some time ago and it is
> ready to eat.) "

↑ Resultant state. Lunch has already been cooked but it has not been eaten.

