Where something is: 〜に〜が あります
Put a person or thing in a place, using に and が together.
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A useful order is place + に, thing + が, existence verb. 机 の 上 に 本 が あります means “There is a book on the desk.” The Japanese starts with the location and leaves the verb until the end.
に marks the location; が marks what is there. Practice with both particles so each role is clear. You may hear particles omitted in casual speech, but keeping them helps you build this pattern accurately.
| position | |
|---|---|
| 上(うえ) | above / on top |
| 中(なか) | inside |
| 下(した) | below / underneath |
| 前(まえ) | in front |
| 後(うし)ろ | behind |
These position words behave like nouns, rather than English prepositions. Use の to connect them to a place or object: 机 の 上 is structurally “the top of the desk.” Add に to mark that as the location.
Examples
部屋 に テレビ が あります。
There is a TV in the room.
机 の 上 に 猫 が います。
There is a cat on the desk.
公園 に 犬 が います。
There is a dog in the park.
家 の 前 に 車 が あります。
There is a car in front of the house.