N5 · Lesson 9
Where exactly?
〜の 上／下／前／後ろ／となり／間 ・ 〜に〜が あります ・ だれか／だれも ・ family
In this lesson, you will learn to say exactly where something is (on, under, in front of, behind, next to, between), to tell someone what is in a place, to say 'someone' and 'no one', and to talk about your family and other people's. You will also meet Tanaka's sister, Ai.
By the end you will be able to say
本は つくえの 上に あります。The book is on the desk.
駅の となりに 銀行が あります。There is a bank next to the station.
だれか いますか。Is anyone there?
いいえ、だれも いません。No, there's no one.
私の 家族は 四人です。There are four people in my family.
The grammar in this lesson
- On, under, in front of, behind, next to, between — Aの + a position word + に: つくえの 上に.
- 'There is X in Y' or 'X is in Y' — 〜に〜が あります introduces something new; 〜は〜に あります says where a known thing is.
- Someone, something; no one, nothing — だれか／何か in questions; だれも／何も with a negative.
- My family, your family — Plain words for your own family, polite ones for someone else's; counting people.