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Me and the particle `へ` don't get along. It's not that we don't like each
other, it's that we don't get each other. I'm in a pretty committed
relationship with `に`.

I mean, I think I understand what `へ` aspires to do. `へ` is focused on the
process of going somewhere, and `に` is focused on the destination. But in
practical terms, the difference strikes me as too subtle to really matter. So
subtle that I don't know if I've _ever_ uttered `へ` when speaking Japanese.

It seems to be that `「あの場所に行っている」` and `「あの場所へ行っている」` both mean "[I'm] going
to that place". However in one case I'm emphasizing the `場所` and in the other
I'm emphasizing that I'm `行っている`. Hmmm...

Whenever I'm speaking, I never invite `へ` to come along, because I've never
felt the need to make that distinction.

I've never thought, "does the person I'm talking to understand that I'm
_going_ to that place, not just there's a place that I'm going to?" Absolutely
every time I want to convey an action that involves direction, I find that `に`
always comes through for me.

So I wonder, is there any situation where `に` absolutely cannot replace `へ`？
Where the meaning would significantly change, or that it would become
ungrammatical?

Heck, do we even really need `へ`?

Or have I misunderstood its purpose completely?

_(Please make answers readable by all, with no overly technical linguistic
terms. Thanks!)_
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2011-07-24T16:47:05.820
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2011-07-25T02:50:43.193
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question
grammar particles particle-に
Can't に always replace へ?
Using `に` in front of `の` to modify a noun is ungrammatical.

> ○ あの場所への行き方  
>  × あの場所にの行き方  
>  'the way to go to that place'

If you are not modifying a noun, you can use either.

> ○ あの場所へ行く方法  
>  ○ あの場所に行く方法  
>

To answer rintaun's question below, when the noun is more of a recipient
rather than just a destination, replacing `に` with `へ` will sound strange.

> △ あなたへプレゼントをあげる  
>  ○ あなたにプレゼントをあげる

However, as with above, if the usage of `に` is prohibited for some reason,
then `へ` will take over that usage, and becomes completely fine.

> ○ あなたへのプレゼント  
>  × あなたにのプレゼント  
>  
>  △ あなたへあげるプレゼント [Relative clause]  
>  ○ あなたにあげるプレゼント [Relative clause]
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2011-07-24T17:01:00.180
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2011-07-24T17:30:11.707
2011-07-24T17:30:11.707
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answer
Just one example case where へ can not be replaced by に:

When addressing a note to someone, you could say 田中へ but I don't think you
could write 田中に with the same meaning.
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2011-07-25T02:50:43.193
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2011-07-25T02:50:43.193
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answer