Romaji sentence help

S

Sly

Guest

• 6 Dec 2013

• #1

Konnichiwa! Watashi wa Sly desu!
I am new to this website and already have a question.
I am a begginer at Japanese and I'm studying by myself at home.
I would like to know if these are correct:
Anata no gakkou wa doko desu ka
or
Anata no gakkou wa doko de
where is your school at / where do you go to school
If they are incorrect, please help me correct it.
And also how do you say: "When are you going to school?"
Arigatou Gozaimasu!

 

M

Morphling

先輩

3 Apr 2013

273

32

• 6 Dec 2013

• #2

The first sentence is correct.

Anata no gakkou wa doko desu ka.

The 2nd isn't. It should be

Anata no gakkou wa doko ni arimasuka.

Ni and de can be confusing. For state based verbs, such as aru and iru, Ni is used. For action, de is normally used such as hataraku, taberu etc. There are always exceptions and fixed usages but that's just the way things are.

And your last question would be

Itsu gakkou ni ikimasuka.

Tip i would get away from romaji as fast as possible. Reason being romaji has no standard and can be spelt several ways which causes confusion. Also some kana like は is pronounced as wa instead of ha when used as a particle. The earlier you move in to kana the better.

 

S

Sly

Guest

• 6 Dec 2013

• Thread starter
• #3

Yes, I know romaji is a bad idea I've been listening to mp3 audio classes but I must start studying the writing systems too.

Thank you very much for your correction, explanation and tip.

 

Last edited by a moderator: 6 Dec 2013

M

Morphling

先輩

3 Apr 2013

273

32

• 7 Dec 2013

• #4

No problems. I forgot to translate one of your sentences.

Which school do you go to.

Dono gakkou ni kayotteimasuka.

 

Toritoribe

松葉解禁

Moderator

Fifteen-year veteran

22 Feb 2008

18,266

4,926

• 7 Dec 2013

• #5

Depending on the context, "Anata no gakkou wa doko desu ka" can be a question asking where the location of your school is, as same as "Anata no gakkou wa doko ni arimasuka" (for instance, when the speaker and the addressee are talking about the topic in front of a map).

 

S

Sly

Guest

• 7 Dec 2013

• Thread starter
• #6

Thank you both for your help

And could I use itte instead of kayotte? What's the difference?

Dono gakkou ni "kayotte"imasuka.

 

Toritoribe

松葉解禁

Moderator

Fifteen-year veteran

22 Feb 2008

18,266

4,926

• 7 Dec 2013

• #7

"Kayou" clearly shows that you attend the school. "Iku" can be used also when you just go to there on some errand, depending on the context (such situation would be rare, though). Anyway, "Gakkou wa doko desu ka", "Dono / Doko no gakkou ni kayotte iru n desu ka", "Dono / Doko no gakkou ni itte iru n desu ka" are all correct.

 

S

Sly

Guest

• 7 Dec 2013

• Thread starter
• #8

Ok thanks again.