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Hello and welcome to Nihongoいちにのさん!!
Let's study Japanese grammar together.
N1はN2に あります／います
We have learned that “あります” and “います” indicate existence.
When the thing or person is the topic of the sentence "～に～があります/います," the subject is indicated by "は" rather than "が."
The subject thing or person is also indicated at the very beginning of the sentence.
When a word is the topic, both the speaker and the listener need to know what they are talking about.
This would be the case, for example, when asking about or answering a question about where the thing or person is located.
※When answering, the subject is usually omitted.
e.g.
Q：ゴミ箱はどこにありますか。
A：あそこにあります。
Q：ゴミばこは どこに ありますか。
A：あそこにあります。
Q：Where is the rubbish bi？
A： It's over there.
e.g.
Q：田中さんはどこにいますか。
A：事務所にいます。
Q：たなかさんは どこにいますか。
A：じむしょに います。
Q：Where is Ms Tanaka?
A： She is in the office.
e.g. （In the introduction of a town）
私の町は札幌です。札幌は北海道にあります。
わたしのまちは さっぽろです。さっぽろは ほっかいどうに あります。
My hometown is Sapporo. Sapporo is located in Hokkaido.
The words for position or direction are added after the noun for place and the particle 'の'.
e.g.
Q：家のかぎはどこにありますか。
A：テーブルの上にあります。
Q：いえのかぎは どこにありますか。
A：テーブルのうえにあります。
Q：Where is the house key?
A： It is on the table.
e.g.
Q： 病院はどこにありますか。
A：郵便局の隣にあります。
Q： びょういんはどこにありますか。
A：ゆうびんきょくのとなりにあります。
Q： Where is the hospital located?
A：It is located next to the post office.
e.g.
Q： 猫はどこにいますか。
A： いすの下にいます。
Q：ねこはどこにいますか。
A：いすのしたにいます。
Q：Where is the cat?
A：Under the chair.
Speaking Practice
Practice Japanese on italki
If you want to practice this grammar in real conversation, learning with a tutor can help you improve faster. Many learners find that regular speaking practice is the fastest way to become confident in Japanese.
Find a Japanese Tutor on italki →Suggested Study Material
Minna no Nihongo I (Main Textbook)
This grammar point appears in Minna no Nihongo(Lesson 10), one of the most widely used beginner textbooks for Japanese learners.
Check textbook detailsThe main textbook is written mostly in Japanese, so many learners also use the Translation & Grammar Notes together.
Minna no Nihongo I – Translation & Grammar Notes (English)
Check translation & grammar book※Minna no Nihongo is available worldwide on Amazon. If the link does not work in your country, you can search the title on your local Amazon store.
