📍 Where Things Are (あります/います)
Express existence and location of objects and people. Master the crucial difference between あります (for things) and います (for living beings), and learn to describe where everything is located with precision and clarity.
🎯 Learning Objectives
Distinguish between あります and います
Express location with に particle
Use positional vocabulary
Build natural location sentences
Ask and answer location questions
Use question forms
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🔍 あります vs います - The Key Difference
Unlike English, Japanese has two distinct verbs for existence and they are both verbs that we have seen before. Which one you use depends on whether the subject is animate (can move by itself) or inanimate (cannot move by itself). This distinction is crucial for natural Japanese!
Verb | Meaning | Used For | Example | Audio |
---|---|---|---|---|
あります | there is/are (inanimate objects) | For things, places, events | ほんがあります There is a book | |
います | there is/are (animate beings) | For people, animals | ねこがいます There is a cat |
💡 Quick Decision Guide:
Use います for:
- • People (ひと、こども、せんせい)
- • Animals (ねこ、いぬ、とり)
- • Fish (さかな) - they can move!
- • Insects (むし)
Use あります for:
- • Objects (ほん、ペン、くるま)
- • Buildings (がっこう、いえ)
- • Plants (き、はな) - they can't move!
- • Events (パーティー、しけん)
👥 Animate vs Inanimate - Practice Examples
Let's practice distinguishing between animate and inanimate objects. This skill is essential for choosing the correct existence verb!
います - Animate (Living Things)
ひと
こども
せんせい
がくせい
ねこ
いぬ
とり
さかな
あります - Inanimate (Non-living Things)
ほん
ペン
かばん
つくえ
いす
くるま
でんわ
コンピューター
📖 Essential Grammar Patterns
These three patterns form the foundation of describing existence and location. Understanding when to use each one will make your Japanese sound natural!
📝 Sentence Structure Summary:
- • [Noun] は [Location] に あります/います。 - The [noun] is at [location]
- • [Location] に [Noun] が あります/います。 - There is [noun] at [location]
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📍 Location Words - Describing Positions
These words help you describe exactly where things are located. Combine them with the の particle to create precise location descriptions!
うえ
above/on top
した
below/under
よこ
beside/next to
まえ
in front of
うしろ
behind
なか
inside
そと
outside
となり
next door/adjacent
あいだ
between
みぎ
right
ひだり
left
ちかく
near/close to
とおく
far from
むこう
over there/beyond
🎯 How to Use Location Words:
- • Basic pattern: [Object] の [Location] - つくえのうえ (on top of the desk)
- • With existence: つくえのうえにほんがあります (There is a book on the desk)
- • Multiple words: つくえのうえのみぎ (on the right side of the desk top)
- • Remember: The location word comes after the の particle
📍 Location Words with Examples
Here are practical examples using each location word. Notice how they combine with の to create precise position descriptions!
つくえのうえにほんがあります。
There is a book on top of the desk.
いすのうえにねこがいます。
There is a cat on the chair.
ベッドのしたにかばんがあります。
There is a bag under the bed.
つくえのしたにいぬがいます。
There is a dog under the desk.
くるまのなかにせんせいがいます。
The teacher is inside the car.
はこのなかになにがありますか。
What is inside the box?
がっこうのとなりにコンビニがあります。
There is a convenience store next to the school.
わたしのとなりにともだちがいます。
My friend is next to me.
きょうしつのまえにがくせいがいます。
There are students in front of the classroom.
いえのまえにくるまがあります。
There is a car in front of the house.
がっこうのうしろにこうえんがあります。
There is a park behind the school.
わたしのうしろにだれがいますか。
Who is behind me?
つくえのよこにゴミばこがあります。
There is a trash can beside the desk.
せんせいのよこにせいとがいます。
There is a student beside the teacher.
いすといすのあいだにつくえがあります。
There is a desk between the chairs.
たろうとはなこのあいだにせんせいがいます。
The teacher is between Taro and Hanako.
つくえのみぎにまどがあります。
There is a window to the right of the desk.
わたしのひだりにねこがいます。
There is a cat to my left.
えきのちかくにホテルがあります。
There is a hotel near the station.
がっこうのとおくにやまがあります。
There are mountains far from the school.
🎯 Pattern Practice:
- • Structure: [Reference Object] の [Position] に [Subject] が あります/います
- • Example: つくえ (desk) + の + うえ (top) + に + ほん (book) + が + あります
- • Translation: "There is a book on top of the desk"
- • Remember: Use あります for objects, います for living things
🏢 Common Places and Locations
These are everyday places you'll often talk about. Practice using them with に to describe where things and people are located!
いえ
house/home
がっこう
school
こうえん
park
みせ
shop/store
えき
station
びょういん
hospital
としょかん
library
ぎんこう
bank
レストラン
restaurant
コンビニ
convenience store
きょうしつ
classroom
へや
room
💬 Example Sentences with Places:
- • がっこうにせんせいがいます。(There is a teacher at school.)
- • としょかんにたくさんのほんがあります。(There are many books in the library.)
- • こうえんにこどもがたくさんいます。(There are many children in the park.)
- • コンビニはえきのちかくにあります。(The convenience store is near the station.)
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❓ Questions About Existence and Location
Learn how to ask and answer questions about what exists and where things are located. These question patterns are essential for daily conversation!
Question Pattern | Meaning | When to Use | Example Answer | Audio |
---|---|---|---|---|
なにがありますか? | What is there? | Asking about inanimate objects | ほんがあります。(There is a book.) | |
だれがいますか? | Who is there? | Asking about people | たなかさんがいます。(Tanaka-san is there.) | |
どこにありますか? | Where is it? | Asking for location of objects | つくえのうえにあります。(It's on the desk.) | |
だれがどこにいますか? | Who is where? | Asking about person's location | たろうはがっこうにいます。(Taro is at school.) |
💡 Question Word Tips:
For Objects (あります):
- • なに (what) - for things
- • どこ (where) - for location
- • いくつ (how many) - for countable items
For People/Animals (います):
- • だれ (who) - for people
- • どこ (where) - for location
- • なんにん (how many people)
🌟 Advanced Examples and Complex Sentences
Once you master the basics, try these more complex patterns that include multiple objects, quantities. These will make your Japanese sound more natural and fluent!
わたしのへやにはベッドとつくえがあります。
In my room, there is a bed and a desk.
がっこうのまえにたくさんのがくせいがいます。
There are many students in front of the school.
🎯 Practice Examples - Build Your Skills
Study these examples to see how location and existence work together. Pay attention to the choice between あります and います, and notice how the particles work together!
つくえのうえにほんがあります。
There is a book on top of the desk.
こうえんにこどもがいます。
There are children in the park.
ねこはいすのしたにいます。
The cat is under the chair.
コンビニはぎんこうのとなりにあります。
The convenience store is next to the bank.
くるまのなかにかばんがあります。
There is a bag inside the car.
せんせいはきょうしつのまえにいます。
The teacher is in front of the classroom.
🎯 Practice Strategy:
- 1. First identify if the subject is animate or inanimate
- 2. Choose the correct existence verb (あります/います)
- 3. Add location with the に particle if needed
- 4. Use の to connect objects with position words
- 5. Practice by describing your current surroundings!
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💡 Key Points to Remember
Animate vs Inanimate
Always ask: "Can it move by itself?" If yes → います. If no → あります. This includes plants (use あります) and robots (use あります). Fish and insects use います because they can move naturally.
に Particle for Location
Use に to mark where something exists: つくえのうえに (on top of the desk). The location word comes before に. Remember: [Location] に [Object] が あります/います.
は vs が Usage
Use が for new information (何がありますか?- What is there?), は for known topics (ほんはつくえにあります - the book is on the desk). が introduces, は explains location.
の for Relationships
Use の to show spatial relationships: つくえのうえ (on top of the desk), いすのした (under the chair). The pattern is always [Object] の [Position].
Question Forms
Use なに for objects (なにがありますか?), だれ for people (だれがいますか?), and どこ for locations (どこにありますか?). Match your question word to what you're asking about!
🏋️ Test Your Knowledge
🎯 Try This Right Now:
- • Look around you and describe 3 objects using あります
- • Think of 3 people and say where they are using います
- • Ask a question about location using どこ
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