J Jaffa 後輩 Joined 9 Feb 2013 Messages 13 Reaction score 0 4 Mar 2013 #1 Hello, Is there any difference in meaning between the following when you want to say "where is..."? 1.本はどこですか。 2.本はどこにありますか。 1.メアリさんはどこですか。 2.めありさんはどこにいますか。 The only difference I can think about is maybe the latter examples are used when the speaker is referring more specifically to a thing/person... Thanks.
Hello, Is there any difference in meaning between the following when you want to say "where is..."? 1.本はどこですか。 2.本はどこにありますか。 1.メアリさんはどこですか。 2.めありさんはどこにいますか。 The only difference I can think about is maybe the latter examples are used when the speaker is referring more specifically to a thing/person... Thanks.
Toritoribe 松葉解禁 Moderator Fifteen-year veteran Joined 22 Feb 2008 Messages 18,266 Reaction score 4,926 4 Mar 2013 #2 Those are basically the same in most cases, but メアリさんはどこですか also can be used, for instance, to ask her hometown depending on the context. I.e., どこ doesn't always refers to the location where the subject is at now.
Those are basically the same in most cases, but メアリさんはどこですか also can be used, for instance, to ask her hometown depending on the context. I.e., どこ doesn't always refers to the location where the subject is at now.