After the addition of yttrium aluminum garnet of 2, 5, 10 mol% as a sintering aid, $alpha$-silicon carbides were prepared by a liquid-phase sintering at $1850^{circ}C$, and the microstructural evolution was investigated during sintering as functions of liquid-phase amount and sintering time. The highest apparent density in each compositions was obtained in specimens sintered for 2 h, and the percentage of weight loss increased with sintering time. By increasing the amount of sintering aid (yttrium aluminum garnet), the rate of grain growth during sintering decreased, but the apparent density of sintered body increased. The phase transformation from 6H-SiC to 4H-SiC was partially observed in specimens sintered for a long time, and so, a few rod-like grains were observed.