Japanese Learning: Sentences describing “Existence” using the intransitive verb “Imasu”; [Ko-so-a for place] ni [Animals/Human Subject]ga Imasu.

We learned yesterday sentences describing existence of “Non-Animal”. Today, we are going to learn sentences describing existence of “Animals/Human”. Sentences of these two types are both verb predicates sentences, but the verbs are different;

– For Non-animal : [Place] ni [Non-Animal Subject]ga Arimasu.

– For Aninals : [Place] ni [Animals/Human Subject]ga Imasu.

It is difficult for a Japanese learner to use properly Arimasu or Imasu in conjunction with the subject. An error that happens frequently is to use Arimasu for a person. If someone is somewhere, use “Imasu”.

Practice and remember the following conversation;

A : Asoko ni Dare ga Imasuka. (Who is over there?)

B : Asoko ni Satou-san ga Imasu. (Sato-san is over there.)

Quiz : Choose Arimasu or Imasu in the following sentence.

Asoko ni Takushii ga { Arimasu or Imasu }

where; takushii is taxi

The answer will be shown tomorrow.

This post was written with reference to the exercise A2 on Section 10 of “Minna no Nihongo” published by “3A Corporation”