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How to use the particle NI (Lesson 16)

If the verb in the predicate of a sentence expresses the existence of something, such as IMASU (to be, to exist), NI indicates where something is or exists. For example, "I am at the station" is WATASHI WA EKI NI IMASU.

If the predicate verb expresses a movement or a change, like IKIMASU (to go), NI indicates the terminating point of the movement. For example, "I go to the station" is WATASHI WA EKI NI IKIMASU.

NI also indicates a specific point in time, such as a date or clock time. Suppose, for example, we say "Anna comes at ten o'clock" in Japanese. Ten o'clock is JÛJI. "To come" is KIMASU. So, we say ANNA WA JÛJI NI KIMASU. We cannot use NI with words such as tomorrow or next week, as the specific dates they refer to change, depending on when you speak. So, if you want to say "Anna will come tomorrow", "tomorrow" is ASHITA, so you say ANNA WA ASHITA KIMASU. You cannot say ANNA WA ASHITA NI KIMASU.

NI also has various other functions. Let's learn them, whenever they come up.