To express living things, like animals and people:
The structure of the phrase will be in this form:
[someone] は [place] に [います]
= [someone] is at [place]
For example:
Mr Tan is in the office. = tan san wa jimusho ni imasu = タンさんは事務所にいます。
*For other examples on how to use います- form, refer to Lesson 14.
To express non-living things and plants:
The structure of the phrase will be in this form:
[place] に [something] があります
= there is [something] at [place]
For example:
There are apples on the desk. = tsuku e no ue ni ringo ga arimasu. = 机の上にりんごがあります。(tsukue = desk, ue = on top of, ringo = apple)
*For other examples on how to use あります- form, refer to Lesson 13.
As a general rule: [place] is placed before [に]
Other examples:
- Singapore is at the south of Malaysia. = shingapooru wa mareeshia no minami ni arimasu = シンガポールはマレーシアの南にあります。(minami = south)
- My older sister lives in Tokyo = ane wa toukyou ni sundeimasu. = 姉は東京に住んでいます。(sundeimasu = is living in)
