Location and Basic Verbs

🗺️ Where Things Are & What They Do!

Learn Japanese Location Words and Basic Verbs

Imagine you’re a little explorer in Japan! You need to know where things are and what things do. Today, we’ll learn the magic words that help you find your way and talk about everyday actions!

🧭 Part 1: Direction and Position Words

Think of these words like a treasure map! They tell you where the treasure is hiding.

Your Position Word Toolbox

🎯 Quick Examples

ねこは　テーブルの　上に　います。 Neko wa teeburu no ue ni imasu. The cat is ON TOP of the table.

くつは　ベッドの　下に　あります。 Kutsu wa beddo no shita ni arimasu. The shoes are UNDER the bed.

🐕 Part 2: Aru and Iru - The “Exists” Twins!

Here’s a fun secret: Japanese has two words for “something exists” or “something is there”!

Meet the Twins!

graph TD
    A["Does something exist?"] --> B{Is it alive?}
    B -->|YES - Living things| C["います iru"]
    B -->|NO - Non-living things| D["あります aru"]
    C --> E["People, animals, insects"]
    D --> F["Books, tables, phones"]

🌟 The Simple Rule

🎯 Examples in Action

Living things - use います (imasu):

いぬが　います。 - Inu ga imasu. - There is a dog. せんせいが　います。 - Sensei ga imasu. - There is a teacher.

Non-living things - use あります (arimasu):

ほんが　あります。 - Hon ga arimasu. - There is a book. くるまが　あります。 - Kuruma ga arimasu. - There is a car.

⚠️ Tricky Part!

Plants are alive, BUT in Japanese, they don’t move by themselves, so we use あります!

きが　あります。 (NOT います!) Ki ga arimasu. - There is a tree.

📍 Part 3: Expressing Location

Now let’s combine everything! It’s like building with LEGO blocks!

The Magic Formula

[Thing] は [Place] の [Position] に います/あります

Think of の as “'s” (possessive) and に as “at/in”!

🎯 Building Location Sentences

Step 1: What are we talking about? → ねこは (The cat…)

Step 2: Where is it? → テーブルの上に (on top of the table)

Step 3: Does it exist? → います (it exists - it’s alive!)

Complete: ねこは　テーブルの　上に　います。 Neko wa teeburu no ue ni imasu. The cat is on the table.

More Examples

🏃 Part 4: Common Motion Verbs

These are your action words for moving around! Like a video game character!

Your Motion Verb Collection

🎯 Motion Examples

学校に　行きます。 Gakkou ni ikimasu. - I go to school.

うちに　帰ります。 Uchi ni kaerimasu. - I return home.

バスに　乗ります。 Basu ni norimasu. - I get on the bus.

電車を　降ります。 Densha o orimasu. - I get off the train.

🌅 Part 5: Common Daily Verbs

These are the things you do every single day!

Your Daily Action Words

🎯 Daily Life Examples

朝、七時に　起きます。 Asa, shichi-ji ni okimasu. - I wake up at 7 in the morning.

パンを　食べます。 Pan o tabemasu. - I eat bread.

テレビを　見ます。 Terebi o mimasu. - I watch TV.

本を　読みます。 Hon o yomimasu. - I read a book.

💬 Part 6: Common Communication Verbs

These help you connect with people!

Your Communication Toolkit

🎯 Communication Examples

日本語を　話します。 Nihongo o hanashimasu. - I speak Japanese.

先生に　聞きます。 Sensei ni kikimasu. - I ask the teacher.

友だちに　会います。 Tomodachi ni aimasu. - I meet my friend.

英語を　教えます。 Eigo o oshiemasu. - I teach English.

🎁 Putting It All Together!

Let’s combine location + existence + verbs!

A Day in Tokyo Story

朝、七時に　起きます。 Asa, shichi-ji ni okimasu. I wake up at 7 in the morning.

駅は　うちの　近くに　あります。 Eki wa uchi no chikaku ni arimasu. The station is near my house.

電車に　乗ります。 Densha ni norimasu. I get on the train.

友だちが　駅の　前に　います。 Tomodachi ga eki no mae ni imasu. My friend is in front of the station.

友だちに　会います。 Tomodachi ni aimasu. I meet my friend.

✨ Remember These Golden Rules!

1. います = Living things (people, animals)
2. あります = Non-living things (objects, plants)
3. Use の to connect place + position
4. Use に to mark the location
5. Motion verbs tell us how things move
6. Daily verbs describe everyday actions
7. Communication verbs connect us with others

🌟 You’re now a Location & Verb Explorer! 🌟

Practice a little each day, and soon these words will feel like old friends!

がんばって！(Ganbatte! - Good luck!)