Japanese/Lesson/Where is it?

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This lesson introduces the sentence structure and vocabulary to describe where things are.

Before you start, make sure you've read the module on pro-forms for an explanation of these prepositions, and learnt how to use the particles "は", "の", and "に" as well as the difference between "います" and "あります".

[edit] Asking "where"

To ask about the location of someone or something you ask:

〜はどこにいますか

〜はどこにありますか

Where is ～?

depending on whether the subject is animate or inanimate.

[edit] Vocabulary

English	Japanese	Reading	Notes
front	前	まえ
back	後ろ	うしろ
above, on	上	うえ
below	下	した
inside	中	なか

[edit] Sentence pattern

〜 は	〜 の	前 後ろ 上 下 中	に	います あります
	ここ そこ あそこ

• Note: ～の上に often means "on the ～".

ねこはテーブルの上にいます。 — The cat is on the table.

山田さんはビルの中にいます。 — Mr. Yamada is inside the building.

ボールは箱の中にあります。 — The ball is inside the box.