Grammar - chapter 4
A. Existence and Location SFJ Notes pg 83-8
The Japanese language distinguishes between living and non-living things when talking about existence. Consequently, there are two different verbs to talk about existence, depending on whether the thing you speak of is living (animate) or non-living (inanimate). When speaking of a living/animate thing, you must use the verb iru/imasu (いる・います). When speaking of a non-living/inanimate thing, you must use the verb aru/arimasu (ある・あります). These cannot be mixed up.
A rudimentary example to demonstrate what happens when you mix these two verbs:
Existence verbs are particularly useful in talking about where an object or animal/person is. In other words, these verbs are useful for talking about where a particular thing exists in space. For example:
Animate/Living verb (います): PLACE にPERSON/ANIMAL がいます。 (place ni person/animal ga imasu)
Inanimate/Non-Living verb (あります): PLACE に THING があります。 (place ni thing ga arimasu)
Some examples talking about existence in location:
Making the Location the Topic
In the above examples, the thing or person/animal was the topic of the sentence. However, the situation may call for a discussion of what is in a particular space, with that space being the subject of the sentence. For example:
Some examples:
This link effectively summarizes the use of いる and ある.
The Japanese language distinguishes between living and non-living things when talking about existence. Consequently, there are two different verbs to talk about existence, depending on whether the thing you speak of is living (animate) or non-living (inanimate). When speaking of a living/animate thing, you must use the verb iru/imasu (いる・います). When speaking of a non-living/inanimate thing, you must use the verb aru/arimasu (ある・あります). These cannot be mixed up.
A rudimentary example to demonstrate what happens when you mix these two verbs:
- ねこがあります。
- Neko ga arimasu.
- There is a dead cat.
- ねこがいます。
- Neko ga imasu.
- The cat exists.
Existence verbs are particularly useful in talking about where an object or animal/person is. In other words, these verbs are useful for talking about where a particular thing exists in space. For example:
- 家に田中さんがいます。
- Uchi ni tanaka-san ga imasu.
- Tanaka is at home.
Animate/Living verb (います): PLACE にPERSON/ANIMAL がいます。 (place ni person/animal ga imasu)
Inanimate/Non-Living verb (あります): PLACE に THING があります。 (place ni thing ga arimasu)
Some examples talking about existence in location:
- 大学に図書館があります。
- Daigaku ni toshokan ga arimasu.
- There is a library in the university.
- 教室に先生がいません。
- Kyoushitsu ni sensei ga imasen.
- There is not a teacher in the classroom.
Making the Location the Topic
In the above examples, the thing or person/animal was the topic of the sentence. However, the situation may call for a discussion of what is in a particular space, with that space being the subject of the sentence. For example:
- レスブリッジ大学には図書館がありますか。
- Resuburijji daigaku ni wa toshokan ga arimasu ka.
- In the university is there a library?
Some examples:
- 私の部屋にはねこがいます。
- Watashi no heya ni wa neko ga imasu.
- In my room there is a cat.
- 大学の教室にはなにがありますか。
- Daigaku no kyoushitsu ni wa nani ga arimasu ka.
- In the university classrooms, what is there?
This link effectively summarizes the use of いる and ある.
B. The Ko/So/A/Do System SFJ Notes pg 81-3
The ko/so/a/do system is similar to here/there/over there/where? in English. There are 3 sets of ko/so/a/do words in Japanese and each set has a slightly different function.
1. ~~れ ==> Ko/So/A/Do as Nouns
これ(this one)
それ(that one) These words are NOUNS. They are followed by
あれ(that one over there) a particle.
どれ (which one?)
Ex1 これはペンです。 (This is a pen.)
Ex2 これを見てください。 (Please look at this.)
This system is used when the objects spoken about are obvious to both the speaker and the listener so that it is unnecessary to mention them by name. In place of the actual name of the object, one of this set of words may be used.
2. ~~の ==> Ko/So/A/Do as Adjectives
この~(this ~)
その~(that ~) These words act as a type of adjective.
あの~(that ~ over there) They must be followed by a noun!
どの~ (which~?)
Ex1 この本をよみました。 (I read this book)
Ex2 どのかばんがいいですか。 (Which bag is good?)
This set of the Ko/So/A/Do system cannot be used without a noun directly following. A noun or noun phrase (A の B, for example) must directly follow a word in this set.
3. ~~こ ==> Ko/So/A/Do as Location Nouns ここ(here)
そこ(there) These words are nouns that indicate location/place.
あそこ(Over there) They are followed by a particle.
どこ(where?)
Ex1 あそこにゆうびんきょくがあります。 (There is a post office over there)
Ex2 ここに来てください。 (Please come here.)
In every set of Ko/So/A/Do words, meaning is determined based on the position of the speaker and the person/people that he/she is speaking to, as follows:
Location Review Exercises
Location Sentence Pattern Review
The ko/so/a/do system is similar to here/there/over there/where? in English. There are 3 sets of ko/so/a/do words in Japanese and each set has a slightly different function.
1. ~~れ ==> Ko/So/A/Do as Nouns
これ(this one)
それ(that one) These words are NOUNS. They are followed by
あれ(that one over there) a particle.
どれ (which one?)
Ex1 これはペンです。 (This is a pen.)
Ex2 これを見てください。 (Please look at this.)
This system is used when the objects spoken about are obvious to both the speaker and the listener so that it is unnecessary to mention them by name. In place of the actual name of the object, one of this set of words may be used.
2. ~~の ==> Ko/So/A/Do as Adjectives
この~(this ~)
その~(that ~) These words act as a type of adjective.
あの~(that ~ over there) They must be followed by a noun!
どの~ (which~?)
Ex1 この本をよみました。 (I read this book)
Ex2 どのかばんがいいですか。 (Which bag is good?)
This set of the Ko/So/A/Do system cannot be used without a noun directly following. A noun or noun phrase (A の B, for example) must directly follow a word in this set.
3. ~~こ ==> Ko/So/A/Do as Location Nouns ここ(here)
そこ(there) These words are nouns that indicate location/place.
あそこ(Over there) They are followed by a particle.
どこ(where?)
Ex1 あそこにゆうびんきょくがあります。 (There is a post office over there)
Ex2 ここに来てください。 (Please come here.)
In every set of Ko/So/A/Do words, meaning is determined based on the position of the speaker and the person/people that he/she is speaking to, as follows:
- これ、この、ここ refer to something right near the speaker, but at a distance from his/her audience.
- それ、その、そこ refer to something at a distance from the speaker, but near his/her audience.
- あれ、あの、あそこ refer to something at a distance from both the speaker and his/her audience.
- どれ、どの、どこ are question words, and do not rely on the position of the speaker and/or his/her audience.
Location Review Exercises
Location Sentence Pattern Review