On, Under, In
Today I will show you how to say “something in on something”
The book is on the table – Hon ga tsukue no ue ni arimasu
「ほん が つくえ の うえ に あります」
The pen is under the chair – Pen ga isu no shita ni arimasu
「ペン が いす の した に あります」
The pen is inside / in the drawer – Pen ga hikidashi no naka ni arimasu
「ペン が ひきだし の なか に あります」
Meaning : Tsukue (Table), Ue (up), Ue ni (on / on top), Isu (Chair), Shita (Down), Shita ni (under / at the bottom), Hikidashi (Drawer), Naka / Naka ni (Inside / In)
The particle “ni” is translated as “in, at, on”. It is also normally use for questions such as Where (direction), What (time), etc. For example :
Q : Where is my pen – Watashi no pen ga doko ni arimasu ka? 「わたし の ペン が どこ に あります か」
A : Your pen is in the drawer – Anata no pen ga hikidashi no naka ni arimasu.
「あなた の ペン が ひきだし の なか に あります」
December 14th, 2006 at 3:55 am
So then… how would you say something like, “Your pen is NOT in the drawer, but under the chair.” Where would you incorporate the NOT in that sentence???
Thanks!
December 14th, 2006 at 6:15 pm
Hi AJ, the following should answer your question :
Anata no pen wa hikidashi no naka niwa arimasen ga isu no shita ni arimasu.
December 15th, 2006 at 3:33 am
Thanks!!!!
December 15th, 2006 at 3:37 am
Okay, one more about this, then I’ll leave you alone for a while…
In your last reply, are you really supposed to put “wa” after pen, and then later use “ga” before chair?? Wakarimasen! I trust you in this, but I’m not following with it in my brain…
Thanks so much for your help in everything!
December 15th, 2006 at 10:33 am
Hi AJ, you are always welcome to ask questions. I will try my best to answer all of them.
Sorry for not elaboration the “ga” in details.
“Anata no pen wa” – “wa” is used because we are saying the the pen is not in the drawer (pen is a topic) and the “ga” means “but” when it is used between 2 topics.
Hope this help
December 16th, 2006 at 3:51 am
THANKS! That’s awesomely helpful!
June 18th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
The book is on the table
Hon ga tsukue no ue ni arimasu
I understand that “no” means belongs to someone or something. But in this case, I’m quite confused. What does “no” represents here? Thanks very much! Arigatou!
June 18th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
Hi Jo,
Yes, ‘no’ means belongs to something or ‘something of something’. Example: Pen of Mine, Car of His….
So for ‘tsukue of ue’, it means ‘on top of the desk’ or ‘pen no iro’ – Colours of the pen.
Hope this help
February 19th, 2010 at 6:27 am
In the second cuestion you missed “KA” particule.
xD
February 19th, 2010 at 11:55 am
Hi Duke,
In fact, it is an answer not question. I mistakenly type a question mark. Anyway, corrected. Thanks for highlighting it.
May 17th, 2012 at 12:37 am
Why do you use in all your sentences “ga” instead of “wa”?
for example: Hon ga tsukue no ue ni arimasu.
May 17th, 2012 at 12:46 am
Is it because “ga” belongs to “arimasu”?
When I leave out everything from the sentence except “Hon ga arimasu”, I see that “ga” is needed.
April 24th, 2019 at 5:34 pm
How do I say that, for example, “I am inside my house”? Is it the same principle or is it different for locations?