で
JLPT N5:location of action
Marks the place where an action happens: "at X" or "in X".
How to form it
- Put で after the place where someone does something: 図書館で勉強します (I study at the library).
- Events take で too, because they happen somewhere: 東京でコンサートがあります (there's a concert in Tokyo).
Examples
図書館で勉強します。
I study at the library.
公園で子供が遊んでいます。
Children are playing in the park.
Notes
- For where something simply is, use に with いる and ある. An event is the exception: it takes で even with ある.
Common mistakes
- Using で with いる or ある for where something is. Say 部屋に猫がいる, not 部屋で.
- Using に for the place of an action. Say レストランで食べる, not レストランに.
Similar meaning
- にexistence / location / time
Where something exists, with いる and ある.
Same form, different meaning
- でmeans / tool / material
The same で after a tool, vehicle or language means "by" or "with".
- でcause
The same で after an event or illness can mean "because of".