〜は〜にあります~ wa ~ ni arimasu
Wa ni arimasu (〜は〜にあります) means “where an object is located”.
The convenience store is on the north side.
Use 〜は〜にあります to say where a nonliving thing or building is, placing に after the location.
In the course
How it works
When looking for the police box, first name the place you want to find, then use 「〜は〜にあります」 to say where it is.
Use 「あります」 to say where nonliving things, such as objects or buildings, are.
「交番は」 first introduces what you are talking about. What follows tells the listener where the police box is.
「銀行の隣」 is a location: next to the bank. Add 「に」 after it to show that the police box is there.
To ask where the police box is, replace the location with 「どこ」 and add 「か」 at the end.
If both speakers know they are talking about the police box, the answer can leave out 「交番は」 and give its location directly.
In 「銀行は学校の隣にあります」, the school is the landmark, and the bank is the place you are looking for.
Treat 「学校の隣」 as one location phrase. 「の」 links the landmark to the position; add 「に」 after the whole phrase.
Example sentences
- コンビニkonbiniはwa北側kitagawaにniあります。arimasu
The convenience store is on the north side.
- 銀行ginkouはwa学校gakkouのno
In a conversation
- A交番はどこにありますか。
A: Where is the police box?
- B銀行の隣にありますよ。
B: It's next to the bank.
Check yourself
Level 1 · Recognise
Which sentence is correct?
Level 1 · Recognise
Listen and choose the meaning
Level 2 · Build
Put the words in order
The convenience store is on the north side.
Level 3 · Use
What goes in the blank?
本屋は駅の近く 。
The bookstore is near the station.
More grammar in this theme
- 〜は〜にありますwhere an object is located
