Dutch often uses a preposition before a noun; Japanese particles follow the noun and mark its role.
The idea
In Ik lees een boek in de bibliotheek, in precedes the place. In Japanese 図書館で, で follows it and marks where an action happens. に can mark a destination or a place of existence; を marks an object, は a topic and が a subject. A particle’s choice depends on the verb and meaning, not a fixed Dutch equivalent.
Examples
- 図書館で本を読みます。I read a book at the library.
- 図書館に行きます。I go to the library.
- 公園に猫がいます。There is a cat in the park.
- 友達は日本語を勉強します。My friend studies Japanese.
- 誰が来ますか。Who is coming?
- 駅で先生に会います。I meet my teacher at the station.
Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.
No Japanese device voice is available. You can still read the text and use the linked listening resources.
Watch out
Do not translate Dutch in mechanically as で: with います, the location takes に. は sets a topic, while が identifies the subject, including the answer to 誰が.
Try it yourself
図書館＿本を読みます。（で／に）
Show answer or example answer
で
で marks the library as the place where reading happens.
公園＿猫がいます。（で／に）
Show answer or example answer
に
に marks the park as the place where the cat exists.
誰＿来ますか。（は／が）
Show answer or example answer
が
が marks 誰 as the subject being asked about.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Japanese sentences where available. We keep your score.
図書館＿本を読みます。（で／に）
公園＿猫がいます。（で／に）
誰＿来ますか。（は／が）
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Keep your progress
Sign up for free to save your practice results in your account.
Sign up to saveI already have an accountUse it today
Say the Dutch and Japanese examples aloud, then choose the particle that fits each verb.