2007 年 03 月06 日
Existence of things and people
The verbs いきますand あります are used to indicate existence. いきます is used for
animate things such as people and animals, and あります is for inanimate objects.
- いつかい に マーク さん が います。 - There is Marc on the 1st floor.
- つくえ のうえ に ペン が あります。- There is a pen on a desk.
- えき に でんわ が あります。- There is a phone at the station.
- えきに 田中 さん が いませ。- Mr. Tanaka is at the station.
And (と/や)
The particle と is used for 'and' when the existence of nothing and nobody
else is implied. From the sentence using と below it is clear that there is
nothing else in the station besides the bank and M&S. や is used for 'and'
when listing two or more things or people and implying the existence of others
as well. Note that unlike 'and' in English, both particles are used only to
connect nouns, and cannot be used with verbs.
- えき に ぎんこう と M&S が あります。- At the station there is a bank and M&S
(only).
- えき に でんわ や とけい が あります。- At the station there is a telephone, and a
clock (among other things).