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I'm learning from Genki 1 right now, and working my way through the workbook.

The sentence I'm confused about is this:

『私は図書館の前でロバートさんを待ちました。』

I'm already aware of the usage pattern of 『に』 with 『ある』 in terms of locations, such as 『机の上にねこがある』。

Because I've only ever seen 『に』 used with locating objects before, I'm wondering, is it ok to use 『で』 instead in some contexts? I mean, I suppose if it's a sentence in the book then it would be correct lol, but I still feel compelled to ask :P

chocolate
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LemonyFresh
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  • 机の上にねこがある <- should be 机の上にねこがいる. – chocolate May 05 '20 at 13:50
  • Possible duplicate: https://japanese.stackexchange.com/q/60/9831 See also: https://japanese.stackexchange.com/a/36526/9831, https://japanese.stackexchange.com/a/57185/9831, https://japanese.stackexchange.com/a/62873/9831 – chocolate May 05 '20 at 13:56

1 Answers1

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で marks some sort of means by which something is done, be it some sort of tool, a location, a material, an amount of time. In many ways, this acts as an adverb marker

When a place functions as an adverb, a place where something is done, で is the particle you want to use.

に acts as a locus marker. It marks a place a person or thing exists, moves, or is moved, in or out of.

Only use に when the location is a place where something is, or something is being placed, moved to or from.

私は図書館の前でロバートさんを待ちました。

I waited for Robert in front of the library.

(The waiting was done at this particular place.)

私は図書館の前に自転車を止めました。

I stopped/parked the bike in front of the library.

(The library isn't a place where something was done, per se, but it is a location where the bike is now at.)

OsakaJoe
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