XはYです

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Here are the key points of this lesson: Omission of the subject (Xは) Using 'は' for clarity Nouns in Japanese” Omission of the subject (Xは) In Japanese, sentences often omit subjects when the context makes them clear, unlike in English where subjects like "I" or "it" are typically included.  For example, "I am a student," "My major is Japanese language," and "It is 12:30" translate into Japanese as "がくせいです," "にほんごです," and "12じはんです," respectively, without direct subjects. Using 'は' for clarity If the context doesn't provide clarity, Japanese sentences can start with a topic marked by "wa" (は in hiragana), indicating "As for X, it is Y.” For example,  “わたしは がくせいです" (As for me, I am a student), “せんこうは にほんごです" (As for my major, it is Japanese language), and "じかんは12じはんです" (As for the current time, it is 12:30). The particle "wa" (は), used to denote ...
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19. Can you say “There is a pen on the desk” in Japanese?

 19.Describing Objects in Places: "(Place) ni N ga Arimasu" 


This structure pattern is used to indicate the existence of a certain object at a specific place. The object is marked with "が(ga)," while the place is indicated with "に(ni)." Basic expressions to indicate place include "うえ(ue)on/した(shita) under," "なか(naka)inside/そと(soto) outside," "そば (soba) near," "まえ(mae)in front of/うしろ(ushiro) behind," and "となりに (tonari) next to."

テーブルの上にコーヒーがあります。(tēburu no ue ni kōhī ga arimasu.) 
There is a cup of coffee on the table.

A: かばんの中に本がありますか。 (kaban no naka ni hon ga arimasuka? )
Is there a book in the bag?
B: はい、(かばんの中に本が)あります。(hai, (kaban no naka ni hon ga) arimasu.) 
Yes, there is a book in the bag.

In case of a negative answer, "は(wa)" is used instead of  "が(ga)."

A: 教室に新聞がありますか。(kyōshitsu ni shinbun ga arimasuka? )
Is there a newspaper in the classroom?
B: いいえ、（教室に新聞は）ありません。(īe, （kyōshitsu ni shinbun wa） arimasen.)
No, there isn't a newspaper in the classroom. 


To ask what object exists at the mentioned place, use the question pattern "(Place) ni nani ga arimasu ka?" Replace "nani" with the specific object to answer the question.

A: ベッドの近くに何がありますか。 (bedo no chikaku ni nani ga arimasuka?)
What is there near the bed?
B: (ベッドの近くに)机があります。(bedo no chikaku ni) tsukue ga arimasu. 
There is a desk near the bed.


If there is nothing at the place mentioned, you can say: " (palce) ni nani mo arimasen."

A:  椅子の下に何がありますか。(isu no shita ni nani ga arimasuka?)
What is there under the chair?
B: (椅子の下に)何もありません。((isu no shita ni) nani mo arimasen.) 
There is nothing under the chair.

Location: Japan

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