Japanese Learning: Sentences describing “Existence” using the nouns for positions; [Nouns for positions] ni [Subject] ga Arimasu/Imasu.

At first, the followings are quick review about use of intransitive verbs “Arimasu” or “Imasu” when you describing an existence of non-animal or animal/human subjects.

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

2. Animals and Human : [Place] ni [Animals/Human Subject]ga Imasu.

Today’s constructions that can describe existence are as below;

3. For Non-animal : [Noun] no [Position] ni [Non-Animal Subject]ga Arimasu.

example : Kombini no Tonari ni Ginkou ga Arimasu. (A convenience store is next to a Bank.)

4. For Animals and Human : [Noun] no [Position] ni [Animals/Human Subject]ga Imasu.

example : Satou-san no Mae ni Suzuki-san ga Imasu. (Sato-san is in front of Suzuki-san.)

You could see that what is [Place] in 1 and 2 turned to be {[Noun] no [Position]} in 3 and 4. In order to learn the expressions 3 and 4, it is necessary to know some nouns that are used for describing positions. Take a look at illustrations. They are not prepositions but nouns that describe positions.

That’s all for today.

This post was written with reference to the exercise A3 on Section 10 of “Minna no Nihongo” published by “3A Corporation”