I'm asking here since I didn't manage to find a definitive answer to my
questions.

**1. When should I use には and when は?**

The only thing I managed to find online is that は is used when a quantity is
involved as in

> 私{わたし}は犬{いぬ}が[四匹]{よんひき}います。

while には is used in every other case. [[1]](https://www.wasabi-
jpn.com/japanese-grammar/existence-and-possession/)

However, the above phrase does not necessarily express possession. Out of
context, it can simply mean "For me, there are four dogs", for example as an
answer to "What's over there?".

**2. Why is it wrong to use the particle に instead of には or は?**
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2018-10-30T15:27:23.497
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2018-10-30T15:27:23.497
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question
grammar possession
Questions about possession phrases