·5·
However, する suru also directly follows a noun that has a verb-like meaning. For example, it can follow Chinese compounds or words borrowed from English. In many cases, the particle を o can optionally intervene between these words and する suru:
掃除（を）する sōji (o) suru (to clean) 勉強（を）する benkyō (o) suru (to study) コピー（を）する kopī (o) suru (to make a copy) メモする memo suru (to take a note)
チェックインする chekkuin suru (to check in)
The intervening を o is not allowed if there is another instance of を o that marks a direct object. So, in the following examples, sentences (a) to (c) are grammatical, but (d) is not:
(a) よく勉強します。Yoku benkyō shimasu. I study very hard.
(b) よく勉強をします。Yoku benkyō o shimasu. I study very hard.
(c) よく数学を勉強します。Yoku sūgaku o benkyō shimasu. I study mathematics very hard.
(d) よく日本語を勉強をします。Yoku nihongo o benkyō o shimasu. (Ungrammatical)
5·1
ExErcisE
The following verbs are made of words borrowed from English and the verb する suru.
Guess what they mean.
1. ログインする roguin suru 2. メールする mēru suru 3. スタートする sutāto suru 4. オーダーする ōdā suru 5. デートする dēto suru
Existential verbs ある aru and いる iru
The verbs ある aru and いる iru literally mean to exist. To express the existence of inanimate items, use ある aru. To express the existence of animate items such as people and animals, use いる iru. Items that exist are marked by the particle が ga, and the location is marked by the particle に ni. However, one of them should be conveyed as the old shared information, being marked by the topic particle は wa, so the other can be conveyed as the new information. This makes the sentence clear and natural. If you want to convey the location of an item as the new information, place the noun for the item at the beginning of the sentence and mark it with the topic particle は wa, and then place the location noun and mark it with the particle に ni. If you want to convey the existence of an item as the new information, place the location noun at the beginning of the sentence and mark it with the topic particle は wa, and then place the noun for the item and mark it with the particle が ga. (See Chapter 7 for the topic particle は wa.) For
example: テレビはリビングルームにあります。
Terebi wa ribingurūmu ni arimasu.
The TV is in the living room.
リビングルームにはテレビがあります。
Ribingurūmu ni wa terebi ga arimasu.
There is a TV in the living room.
(The existence of the TV is the new information.) この建物には警察官がいます。
Kono tatemono ni wa keisatsukan ga imasu.
There is a police officer in this building.
(The existence of the police officer is the new information.) 警察官はあそこにいます。
Keisatsukan wa asoko ni imasu.
The police officer is over there.
(The location over there is the new information.)
Precise locations of things are expressed using relative location terms. For example, 上 ue is a relative location term that is actually a noun that means upper/top (area). Importantly, the refer-ence item precedes the relative location term to clarify the location, as in 机の上 tsukue no ue (the upper/top area of the desk). It is used in a sentence as shown in this example:
辞書は机の上にあります。
Jisho wa tsukue no ue ni arimasu.
The dictionary is on the desk.
The following table lists some of the essential relative location terms:
Relative Location
Term Meaning Usage Example
上 ue upper/top 辞書は机の上にあります。
Jisho wa tsukue no ue ni arimasu.
The dictionary is on the desk.
下 shita lower area 猫はテーブルの下にいます。
Neko wa tēburu no shita ni imasu.
The cat is under the table.
中 naka inside 携帯はかばんの中にあります。
Keitai wa kaban no naka ni arimasu.
The cell phone is in the bag.
右 migi right かばんは机の右にあります。
Kaban wa tsukue no migi ni arimasu.
The bag is on the right of the desk.
左 hidari left 銀行は病院の左にあります。
Ginkō wa byōin no hidari ni arimasu.
The bank is to the left of the hospital.
前 mae front 田中さんは山田さんの前にいます。
Tanaka-san wa Yamada-san no mae ni imasu.
Mr. Tanaka is in front of Ms. Yamada.
後ろ ushiro rear, back
高橋さんは山田さんの後ろにいます。
Takahashi-san wa Yamada-san no ushiro ni imasu.
Mr. Takahashi is behind Ms. Yamada.
Relative Location
Term Meaning Usage Example
間 aida between
郵便局は病院と銀行の間にあります。
Yūbinkyoku wa byōin to ginkō no aida ni arimasu.
The post office is between the hospital and the bank.
近く chikaku, そば
soba vicinity, near
本屋は大学の近くにあります。
Hon’ya wa daigaku no chikaku ni arimasu.
本屋は大学のそばにあります。
Hon’ya wa daigaku no soba ni arimasu.
The bookstore is near the university.
横 yoko side 本箱は机の横にあります。
Honbako wa tsukue no yoko ni arimasu.
The bookcase is on the side of the desk.
隣 tonari next to
マイクさんは私の隣にいます。
Maiku-san wa watashi no tonari ni imasu.
Mike is next to me.
銀行はスーパーの隣にあります。
Ginkō wa sūpā no tonari ni arimasu.
The bank is next to the supermarket.
5·2
ExErcisE
Translate the following sentences into Japanese.
1. My book is in the bag.
2. My bag is behind the chair.
3. The dog is under the desk.
4. The cat is next to the dog.
You can also use the verb ある aru to express your plans, duties, events, incidents, and expe-riences. For example:
今日はクラスがあります。したは面接があります。
Kyō wa kurasu ga arimasu. Ashita wa mensetsu ga arimasu.
I have a class today. I have an interview tomorrow.
今日大阪で地震がありました。
Kyō Osaka de jishin ga arimashita.
There was an earthquake in Osaka today.
富士山を見たことがあります。
Fujisan o mita koto ga arimasu.
I have seen Mt. Fuji.
The locations of events and incidents are marked by the particle で de. See Chapter 7 for particles. You express your experience by using a verb in the ta form and ことがあります koto ga arimasu. See Chapter 10 for this construction.
The verb いる iru can also express human relationships. For example:
私は兄が３人います。
Watashi wa ani ga san-nin imasu.
I have three older brothers.
兄はフランス人の友達がいます。
Ani wa Furansujin no tomodachi ga imasu.
My older brother has a French friend.
The verbs ある aru and いる iru can also function as auxiliary verbs that follow another verb in the te form. See Chapter 6 for auxiliary verbs.
5·3
ExErcisE
For each of the following, choose the appropriate answer from the options in the parentheses.
1. 桜通りで家事が（ありました, いました）。
Sakura-dōri de kaji ga (arimashita, imashita).
There was a fire in Sakura Street.
2. 伊藤さんは兄弟が3人（あります, います）。
Itō-san wa kyōdai ga san-nin (arimasu, imasu).
Ms. Ito has three siblings.
3. あしたは数学の試験が（あります, います）。
Ashita wa sūgaku no shiken ga (arimasu, imasu).
I have a math exam tomorrow.
4. うなぎを食べたことが（ありますか, いますか）。
Unagi o tabeta koto ga (arimasu ka, imasu ka).
Have you ever had eel?
5. 猫はどこに（ありますか, いますか）。
Neko wa doko ni (arimasu ka, imasu ka).
Where is the cat?