Is the がある here “the same” as がある/がいる (to be/there is)? And if so, is there ever an instance where がいる would be used in a similar manner? (Hopefully this question makes sense - I know がある is for non-living things and がいる is for living ones, but that may only be relevant when not used in this type of clause (and/or I haven’t gotten to the がいる version yet).
Thanks!
Yes, it’s the same がある, just used as a relative clause modifying a noun. And yes, you can also use がいる in a relative clause in the same way. Or pretty much any other verb.
For example, from 安達としまむら (https://learnnatively.com/book/d55ed32253/):
遠ざかっていく日野たちのいる橋の方を一瞥してから、しまむらが笑った。
Shimamura glanced in the direction of the bridge where Hino and her friend were riding away, and laughed.
Here 日野たち are people, and so we see のいる＝がいる being used to describe the bridge in question.
Thank you, this is super helpful!