G10 · Place of an action: で

Before you start

The sentences only use words you already know from hiragana, katakana and the beginner level.

This lesson assumes what you saw in the earlier ones. If something feels shaky, go back to it:

• G01build sentences with は and です
• G02ask and answer
• G03say what something is not
• G04say whose something is
• G05point at things and ask what they are
• G06say «also»
• G07say what you do
• G08say no and talk about the past
• G09say where you go

What you learn

〜で 〜ます

• でplace of an action

で marks where an action happens: いえで たべます (I eat at home). Don't confuse it with に, which marks where you go: いえに いきます.

• いえで ほんを よみます。ie de hon o yomimasu.I read books at home.
• レストランで ばんごはんを たべます。resutoran de bangohan o tabemasu.I have dinner at a restaurant.
• としょかんで べんきょうを します。toshokan de benkyou o shimasu.I study at the library.
• こうえんで さんぽを します。kouen de sanpo o shimasu.I take a walk in the park.
• だいがくで にほんごを はなします。daigaku de nihongo o hanashimasu.I speak Japanese at university.
• あした えきに いきます。ashita eki ni ikimasu.Tomorrow I'm going to the station.

Practice

A short text written only with the kana and grammar you already know. Read it and answer.