戻った

[Elizabeth]

I assume from this that から has to be used with a specific noun and not a general noun?

「カリフォニヤ州から買いました。」？

It probably follows pretty much what makes sense in English. I wouldn't say from in this case for what the context had not made clear....

 

[epigene]

I assume from this that から has to be used with a specific noun and not a general noun?

「カリフォニヤ州から買いました。」？

The answer to your question is yes, but used with the specific noun 業者（ぎょうしゃ）in my example.

So, the sentence you made will usually be interpreted as: I bought it from the state government of California.
カリフォルニア州 is used in Japanese to mean both the state as region and its government.

What you intend to say in the sentence can be understood only when both speakers understand the context in which it said but not when it stands alone.

 

[Damicci]

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!

Now I get it. It sounds like the purchase is being made from the state itself and not a store or perons with in the state.

So in this case で would be used to state that the purchase was made in the area out side of Arizona. I still have confusion on when to use に or で to specify "in".
川で泳ぎます
州外で買います


WOW I am slow!
Thanks everyone!

 

[undrentide]

Hi Glenn!
Actually, that came up my mind, too, because I probably would say that also in casual speech.
But, considering the need for clarity and what had been purchased, I decided "de" is the right choice that doesn't complicate things. To use "kara", I think you have to elaborate further *when writing* into something like:
州外の業者から買った自転車
I'd like to hear from undrentide-san, too...

I feel the same as epigene san.

The difference I feel with で and から is
州外で買った自転車: I went out of state and bought the bicycle.
州外から買った自転車: I stayed here while purchasing the bicycle, have it transported into this state.
And then I feel like to elaborate about "from where", like adding 州外「の業者」から.

 

[Glenn]

Thank you too, undrentide!

 

[Elizabeth]

The answer to your question is yes, but used with the specific noun 業者（ぎょうしゃ）in my example.
So, the sentence you made will usually be interpreted as: I bought it from the state government of California.
カリフォルニア州 is used in Japanese to mean both the state as region and its government.

そうですね。英語でも同じだと思いますね。ありがとうございます。 ちょうど California state government が California と呼ばれますね。

「から」といえば、カリフォルニア州 から買って、アリゾナ（州）に持ち込んだ
（もちこんでもらった）車のようなので、混乱してしまうでしょうね。