助詞Particles: where, when and who
に: where it lands
に has many English translations and one recurring picture: something meets a specific point.
One picture
Look for the red dot
Each sentence has a point that the action reaches or rests on. に follows that point.
Where you're headed
駅に行きます。Eki ni ikimasu.I'm going to the station.
A point on the clock
七時に起きます。Shichiji ni okimasu.I get up at seven.
Where something is
猫は箱の中にいます。Neko wa hako no naka ni imasu.The cat is in the box.
Who receives it
友だちにメールを送ります。Tomodachi ni meeru o okurimasu.I'll email a friend.
Why you're going
パンを買いに行きます。Pan o kai ni ikimasu.I'm going to buy bread.
What something turns into
来年先生になります。Rainen sensei ni narimasu.I'll become a teacher next year.
Who did it to you
犬に靴をかまれました。Inu ni kutsu o kamaremashita.My shoes got chewed by the dog.
Which picture is it?
What is に doing here?
母に花をあげました。Haha ni hana o agemashita.
に or で?
Is something happening there, or is it just there?
It's just there
図書館に本があります。Toshokan ni hon ga arimasu.There are books in the library.
Something happens there
図書館で本を読みます。Toshokan de hon o yomimasu.I read books at the library.
Your turn
に or で?
公園＿＿走ります。Kouen hashirimasu.
I run in the park.
Say it yourself
Plan a meetup
Your friend asks when and where to meet. You want to meet at the station at 3:00. Reply in one sentence.
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