The particle “ni” with imasu and arimasu

In the previous lesson, we saw the particle “ni” and its definition(s).

Now let’s go a little deeper into the particle “ni” with “arimasu”, “imasu” and “desu”.

As an introduction, “ni” can be used to indicate a place or destination.

“Arimasu, imasu” as we know means: existence.

“Desu” can be translated in English as: being.

When “ni” is combined with “arimasu“, it indicates a place where something exists.

When “desu” is used in a phrase it means: to be.

Here are two examples to make it easier:

kuruma wa soko desu

The car is that one.

Kuruma wa soko ni arimasu.

The car is there.

In English everything is translated with the verb “to be”, which can create more confusion than in Spanish (my mother language).

Another thing you need to know in this lesson is the difference between “imasu” and “arimasu”:

-       Imasu is used with living things, such as people, animals and insects.

-       Arimasu used with objects and plants. Ok, so plants are living things, but maybe they are classified here as such, because they don’t move!

And Godzilla and Gundam?

Good question, the answer is that it depends on how “alive” they are.

Godzilla is alive, He/she is a monster but it is alive. So that’s why imasu is used.

Gundam is not alive, no matter how much he suffers when damaged. So that’s why arimasu is used.

But if you ask about the Transformers, then maybe depends on what you think how alive they are or not.