Common beginner mistakes in Japanese

The idea

Notice the role of each particle rather than translating it mechanically. In these examples, に marks a specific time or the location of an existing thing, while で marks where an action happens. を marks the object of an action; は introduces a topic and is pronounced わ in that role. Use います for people and animals and あります for inanimate things.

Examples

• 姉あねは学生がくせいです。My older sister is a student.
• 図書館としょかんで日本語にほんごを勉強べんきょうします。I study Japanese at the library.
• 七時しちじに学校がっこうへ行いきます。I go to school at seven.
• 毎日まいにち、家いえで朝あさご飯はんを食たべます。I eat breakfast at home every day.
• 猫ねこは部屋へやにいます。The cat is in the room.
• 本ほんは机つくえの上うえにあります。The book is on the desk.

Watch out

Do not use で for every kind of location or add に after every time expression: relative words such as 明日 usually do not take it.

Try it yourself

1. Complete the sentence for this meaning: I study Japanese at the library. 図書館としょかん＿日本語にほんごを勉強べんきょうします。（で／に）

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   で

   で marks the place of the action: studying happens at the library. The example says: I study Japanese at the library.

2. Complete the sentence for this meaning: I go to school at seven. 七時しちじ＿学校がっこうへ行いきます。（に／で）

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   に

   に follows the specific time 七時: at seven. The example says: I go to school at seven.

3. Complete the sentence for this meaning: The cat is in the room. 猫ねこは部屋へやに＿。（います／あります）

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   います

   います describes the presence of a living cat; あります is used for inanimate things. The example says: The cat is in the room.

Use it today

Write one sentence with a time, one with an action’s location and one with a living thing’s location. Check each particle and verb.