Ni vs De Location Practice: Where Things Are and Where Actions Happen

Use に for the location of existence and で for the place an action happens. Practise the distinction with the same room, shop, and library vocabulary.

Start with the predicate

図書館にいます locates someone at the library. 図書館で勉強します locates the act of studying there. The building has not changed; the predicate has. With あります and います, choose に for the place where something exists. With actions such as reading, eating, or studying, で commonly marks the setting.

This does not mean that every verb takes で. 住む uses に for the place of residence, and 行く uses に or へ for a destination. Learn a verb together with its particle instead of attaching one particle to every place name.

Compare a pair

公園に子どもがいます reports children in a park. 公園で子どもが遊んでいます reports playing in the park. Read the final verb before filling the blank; the noun 公園 alone cannot decide the answer.

Examples to read before you practise

Try six questions

Try these self-check questions from memory, then compare your answers with the explanations. For automatic checking and saved progress, open the related practice after this article.

1. 図書館（　）本を読みます。

2. 図書館（　）本があります。

3. 公園（　）子どもが遊んでいます。

4. 公園（　）犬がいます。

5. 大阪（　）住んでいます。

6. 食堂（　）昼ご飯を食べます。

Answer key and explanations

1. で — 読む is an action taking place in the library.

2. に — あります locates the existence of books.

3. で — 遊ぶ describes an action in a setting.

4. に — います describes where an animal is.

5. に — 住む takes に for the place of residence.

6. で — The cafeteria is where eating happens.

Keep learning

• Study ni de difference.

• Study arimasu imasu difference.

• Open the related three-step lesson.

• See your daily study and review schedule.

Related lessons

• Arimasu vs Imasu Practice: People, Animals, and Objects

• Desu vs Da Practice: Noun Sentences in Plain and Polite Style

• Te Iru Practice: Ongoing Actions, Habits, and Resulting States