Location & Counting Words

皆さん、こんばんは。

1:

When using location words, I've always used ある/いる.
For example:

銀行は喫茶店の前にあります。(hope that's the right kanji...)
The bank is in front of the café.

But, when I was going over Genki I, I noticed that in the section it teaches direction words, it uses です.

銀行は喫茶店の前です。

Is it wrong? Are both right? If both, which is used more?

2:

Also when going over Genki I, when it teaches how to use counting words, it says like this:

リーさんは切手を三枚買いました。
Lee bought 3 stamps.

But, unless I'm remembering incorrectly, isn't it like this:

リーさんは三枚の切手を買いました。

Is both correct? If both, which is used more? Is only one? If so, which one?

And another question, isn't the number with ～つ used for anything in case you don't know the counting word for it? Or am I mistaken?

And one more... When counting things, if the counter is park of the word, do you still need to use the word? OK, that really makes no sence... Here's what I mean:

僕のクラスには日本人５人います。／僕のクラスには５ 人の日本人がいます。
There are 5 Japanese people in my class.

But how about if you just wanted to say "people"? Like, would it be:

僕のクラスには人が２０人います。／僕の暮らすには２ ０人の人がいます。
There are 20 people in my class.

or

僕のクラスには２０人がいます。

Things like that...? It's a little confusing ^^;

Here's another example:

５本は机の上にあります。
There are 5 long objects on the desk.

Maybe that wasn't a good example... Anyways, I hope you knwo what I mean ^^;;

どうぞよろしくお願い申し上げます。

Tomii515 said:

皆さん、こんばんは。
1:
And one more... When counting things, if the counter is park of the word, do you still need to use the word? OK, that really makes no sence... Here's what I mean:
僕のクラスには日本人５人います。／僕のクラスには５人の日本人がいます。
There are 5 Japanese people in my class.
But how about if you just wanted to say "people"? Like, would it be:
僕のクラスには人が２０人います。／僕の暮らすには２０人の人がいます。
There are 20 people in my class.

Click to expand...

No, you only say it once. Just like the earlier examples of stamps from Genki...

銀行は喫茶店の前にあります。(hope that's the right kanji...)
The bank is in front of the café.
But, when I was going over Genki I, I noticed that in the section it teaches direction words, it uses です.
銀行は喫茶店の前です。
Is it wrong? Are both right? If both, which is used more?

Click to expand...

Both are correct. As an answer to a simple question like "Where is the bank?", we are more likely to say （銀行は）喫茶店の前です.

リーさんは切手を三枚買いました。
Lee bought 3 stamps.
But, unless I'm remembering incorrectly, isn't it like this:
リーさんは三枚の切手を買いました。
Is both correct? If both, which is used more? Is only one? If so, which one?

Click to expand...

Both are correct. The second example sounds a bit more "written". In everyday conversations, the first one is used more.

And another question, isn't the number with ～つ used for anything in case you don't know the counting word for it? Or am I mistaken?

Click to expand...

I suppose you would have to use that if you don't know the counting word although I cannot say "When you are not sure, just use ～つ." as it WILL sound pretty odd to the native ears.

And one more... When counting things, if the counter is part of the word, do you still need to use the word? OK, that really makes no sence... Here's what I mean:
僕のクラスには日本人(が・は）５人います。／僕のクラスには５人の日本人がいます。
There are 5 Japanese people in my class.

Click to expand...

Yes, you still need to use the word.

But how about if you just wanted to say "people"? Like, would it be:
僕のクラスには人が２０人います。／僕のクラスには２０人の人がいます。
There are 20 people in my class.
or
僕のクラスには２０人がいます。
Things like that...? It's a little confusing ^^;

Click to expand...

We don't use 人 in this case. You would have to use a word more specific like 生徒 (students). As for the last example, you might hear in casual conversations 僕のクラスは２０人です which is short for 僕のクラスは20人編成*(へんせい）です. *the make up (of my class).

Here's another example:
５本は机の上にあります。
There are 5 long objects on the desk.

Click to expand...

A counting word alone cannot be the subject of a sentence. The only exception is when what the long object are has already been established.

Examples :

「えんぴつはどこにありますか。」 「5本は机の上にあります。 残りの4本はわたしのかばんの中です。」


トミー、アルヴィン、チップ と デイルは、森の中にいました。 4人は道に迷って泣き な がら歩いていました。

In above 2 examples, you already know what you are talking about (the pencils in the first, chipmunks and Tommy in the second).


I hope that made sense.

ASHIKAGA said:

Both are correct. As an answer to a simple question like "Where is the bank?", we are more likely to say （銀行は）喫茶店の前です.
Both are correct. The second example sounds a bit more "written". In everyday conversations, the first one is used more.

Click to expand...

Isn't the first one also sometimes used to emphasize the number being counted/counter word ?


何を強調したいのかによって、違う感じがすると思いますか？

Ah, wow! Thanks you so much
You answered all of my questions ^^

どうもありがとうございましたよ！！