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STATING EXISTENCE AND WHEREABOUTS
Establishing the fact that a thing exists and stating the whereabouts of the thing are two different things.
Similar yet distinct sentence patterns are used these two functions.

Stating Existence
B NI A GA ARIMASU/IMASU
"In B there is an A"
--[B] == location
--NI == location marker
--[A] == subject
--GA == subject marker
--ARIMASU == "to be" (for inanimate subjects)
--IMASU == "to be" (for animate subjects)
**Again, "B NI" and "A GA" may be omitted.
1. (Anata no) kaban no naka ni ringo ga ARIMASU ka?
ARE THERE apples inside (your) bag?
2. Hai, (watashi no) kaban no naka ni ringo ga hitotsu ARIMASU.
Yes, THERE IS one apple inside (my) bag.
3. (Anata no) kaban no naka ni nani ga ARIMASU ka?
What IS THERE inside your bag?
4. (Watashi no) kaban no naka ni ringo ga ARIMASU.
THERE IS an apple inside (my) bag.
5. Mori ni shika ga IMASU.
THERE ARE deer in the forest.
6. Heya ni hito ga IMASU.
THERE ARE people in the room.
**This pattern is also used to mean "B has A"
1. Boorupen ga ARIMASU ka?
Do (you) have a pen?
2. Hai, ARIMASEN.
Yes, I have.
3. Kyoudai ga IMASU ka?
Do (you) have brothers?
4. Iie, IMASEN.
No, I do not have.
Stating Whereabouts
A WA B NI ARIMASU/IMASU
"A is in B"
--[A] == topic
--WA == topic marker
--[B] == location
--NI == location marker
**Again, "A WA" and "B NI" may be omitted.
1. Ringo wa (anata no) kaban no naka ni ARIMASU ka?
ARE the apples inside (your) bag?
2. Hai, (ringo wa watashi no) kaban no naka ni ARIMASU.
Yes, (the apples) ARE inside (my) bag.
3. Ringo wa doko ni ARIMASU ka?
Where ARE the apples?
4. Ringo wa (watashi no) kaban ni ARIMASU ka?
The apples ARE inside (my) bag.
5. Shika wa mori ni IMASU.
The deer ARE in the forest.
6. Hito wa heya ni IMASU.
The people ARE in the room.
VOCABULARY (GOI)
Locations More Things... ...And Places
... no naka ni
... no ue ni
... no shita ni
... no hidari ni
... no migi ni
... no mae ni
... no ushiro ni
... no tonari ni
... no soba ni
... no chikaku ni
... no mukou ni
... no kita ni
... no minami ni
... no higashi ni
... no nishi ni
inside ...
on top of ...
below ...
at the left of ...
at the right of ...
in front of ...
behind ...
next to ...
beside ...
near ...
opposite ...
north of ...
south of ...
east of ...
west of ...
bin
kabin
gomibin
haizara
hako
kago
hikidashi
tana
reizouko
sentaku-ki
senpuu-ki
baiten
hanbai-ki


bottle
flower vase
trash can
ashtray
box
basket
drawer
shelf
refrigerator
electric fan
washing machine
stall
vending machine


heya
shinshitsu
toire
genkan
tokonoma
rouka
robii
puuru
kaidan
esukareetaa
erebetaa




room
bedroom
toilet
front porch
alcove
corridor
lobby
pool
stairs
escalator
elevator




PRACTICE (RENSHUU)
Translation
1. A: Where is the toilet?
    B: Behind the escalator.
2. A: Where is Ms. Smith?
    B: She's in the lobby.
3. A: Where is the Philippines?
    B: South of Taiwan.
4. A: How many cats are there in your house?
    B: There are fifteen. (animal counter: -HIKI)
5. A: Do you have dogs?
    B: No, I do not have.

Posted: 2001-04-01 (Sun)