に
Location of existence
に indicates the place where someone or something is located as the result of an action. In other words, it marks the location of a continuing state.
電車に乗っています。
/densha ni notteimasu./
I am on the train.
乗る (to get on a train) = the action
電車 (train) = the location of existence
乗っている (to be on the train) = the continuing state
ソファに座っています。
/sofa ni suwatte imasu./
I am sitting on the sofa.
座る (to sit on the sofa) = the action
ソファ (sofa) = the location of existence
座っている (sitting) = the continuing state
で
Location of an action
で indicates the place where an action takes place.
電車で寝ています。
/densha de neteimasu./
I am sleeping on the train.
寝ている (sleeping) = the action
電車 (train) = where the action takes place
ソファで本を読んでいます。
/sofa de hon o yonde imasu./
I am reading a book on the sofa.
読んでいる (reading) = the action
ソファ (sofa) = where the action takes place
Attention!
You may have already studied the grammar pattern 〜に〜があります.
This pattern expresses the location of existence, as we looked at above.
So what about 〜で〜があります?
For example:
今週の土曜日に多摩川で花火大会があります。
/konshuu no doyoobi ni tamagawa de hanabitaikai ga arimasu./
There is a fireworks display on the Tama River this Saturday.
多摩川 = where the event will take place, marked with the particle で
今朝6時ごろ、九州地方で地震がありました。
/kesa rokuji goro, kyuushuu chihoo de jishin ga arimashita./
There was an earthquake in the Kyushu region at around 6:00 this morning.
九州地方 = where the earthquake occurred, marked with the particle で
I hope this lesson has helped clarify the difference between に and で. ☺︎
コメント