で・に

Choose the particle for the relationship expressed by the verb. で marks the setting of an activity. に marks a location with existence verbs such as いる and ある, or a destination with 行く and 来る. The same place can take either particle in different sentences.

1. 1Place + で + action verb
2. 2Place + に + いる / ある
3. 3Destination + に + 行く / 来る / 帰る

1. 1図書館でレポートを書きました。I wrote my report at the library.
2. 2妹は図書館にいます。My younger sister is at the library.

English ‘at’ does not identify the Japanese particle. 働く takes で for the workplace; いる takes に for where someone is. Learn other verb–particle combinations separately rather than treating this contrast as a rule for every verb.

Sign in to see your own cases under this article.

1. 第2条は・がThe topic of the discussion and the subject of a clause
2. 第12条〜ているAn ongoing action, a habit, or a resulting state

• Tofugu: Particle で ↗ (opens in a new tab)
• Tofugu: Particle に ↗ (opens in a new tab)