69067
I feel like （私は）彼の前です。 means the same thing as （私は）彼の前にいます。 (I am in front of
him.)

Also 本はどこですか。and 本はどこにありますか。 (Where is the book?)

Correct me if I'm wrong, but is there a rule for determining when both are
okay and which is better to use in a particular situation?
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2019-05-20T07:20:05.720
68358
2020-01-24T19:31:00.617
2019-06-25T07:09:21.213
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question
word-choice words syntax word-usage
Are です and あります／います ever interchangeable?
Well, in English it may look the same, but you have to pratice thinking in
japanese to understand better.

前 is a word that indicates direction or movement in space or time, so it needs
a particle to indicate where exactly the object that it refers it is.

And you should use います instead of です, because the main subject of it's 私.
That's why the correct form is: 私は彼の前にいます。

Try to think of です as the _To Be_ form in English. Thiking this way, you can't
say _"I'm the front of the guy."_ you have to put _"in"_ in the sentence to
make sense, right?

It's the same when you need to say where the book is. So, saying
本は机の上にあります。you will be saying _"The book is on the table."_

As for 本はどこですか。and 本はどこにありますか。 In the first sentence you are asking simply
_"Where is the book?"_ but in the second you're asking where exactly is the
book, you're asking for directions to where to find it.

Hope it help. I'm not at a high level, but I did my best to explain.
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2019-06-25T02:55:57.223
69067
2019-06-25T02:55:57.223
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answer
First, I’d say a word of warning: あります and います can be confused with verb
conjugations in ます form (specifically present progressive form).

あります and います indicate existence, like where something is. It’s similar to
estar in Spanish if you know that. あります is used for inanimate objects and います
is strictly used for living things.

です is much more like ser in Spanish for lack of a better expression. It means
closer to “is,” “am,” or “are.”

I’m not sure if 彼の前です means “I am in front of him.” Instead, the latter います
version is a much better fit. As for どこ, どこ indicates location (where) so both
work well. Though あります indicates location where as どこですか is more speaking as
where the book is as a description of a book.

私は日本語を独学で勉強しますだからよろしくお願いします！
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-24T19:31:00.617
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2020-01-24T19:31:00.617
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answer