Adding In The Verbs (に)
“Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.” - Albert Einstein
The particle に is a little similar to the particle を, though there are a few key differences that make it special. If you remember from before, に is associated with movement or motion. If you want to be more specific about it, you could say that に has to do with “motion, places, dates, times, as well as indicate what an object is directed to.” You can basically sum all these things up as some kind of motion, though (I think). You’ll see what I mean once we start looking at examples:
a とうきょう に いきます
Go to Tokyo / I will go to Tokyo
This is probably the most basic example. The verb いきます means “to go.” When you “go” somewhere, you are moving. Therefore, you use the に particle. The に particle shows direction and movement. When you go somewhere, there is direction and movement. Let’s take a look at this incorrect way of writing “go to Tokyo.”
とうきょう を いきます
This sentence doesn’t make any sense. Remember that the を particle shows what you are doing to an object? You aren’t “going a Tokyo.” That doesn’t make any sense. You could (technically) eat Tokyo (if you were Godzilla), or perhaps even buy Tokyo… but you can’t “go a Tokyo.” That right there is the difference between を and に. The に particle shows you’re moving. It shows that there’s direction. Doesn’t make sense yet, you say? Let’s look at more examples to help you understand.
a １０じ に いきます
I will go at 10 o’clock
You don’t know １０じ yet, but that means “10 o’clock.” Think of time as a direction… You’re moving through time all the time, right? When it comes to time, as well, you use the に particle.
マクドナルド に きます
I will come to McDonalds
In this sentence, you are coming to McDonald’s. The verb “to come” is also a movement verb, just like いきます.
a マクドナルド に はいります
I will enter McDonald’s
Once again, there is movement. “To enter” is a verb with movement and direction.
a 02/17 に いきます
I will go on 02/17
Another “time” related sentence. You are going on the date 02/17. This one is pretty easy, because it has いきます in it already. What about when the verb isn’t a movement verb, yet you’re talking about a time?
a 02/17 に たべます
I will eat on 02/17
Even though the verb isn’t a “movement verb” this sentence still uses に because we’re talking about “time,” which has movement.
I’m not going to say remembering when to use に and when to use を is going to be easy, though I think it will be easier than differentiating は and が. The lines are a little more clearly drawn, and with some practice (which you’ll continue to get plenty of) you’ll be doing pretty well with these fairly soon.
Let’s do a little quizzing now, though, and see how you’re doing with these. It should also help answer any uncertainties you have about these two particles, and how they’re used with the verbs.