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JLPT N5Location

上 / 下 / 前 / 後ろ— Spatial Anchors

Relative position nouns (locational nouns) that indicate where something is. To link them to a physical reference object, you attach the object with the particle の.

Grammar path · 練習

Practice this in the path

A short lesson: the pattern, its sentence anatomy, a quick quiz and a sentence to build.

Pro lessonUNIT 22 · LOCATION

Structure · 形

[Anchor Noun] + の + [Position Noun] + に + あります／います

Examples · 例文

  • ベッドの下に猫がいる。

    Beddo no shita ni neko ga iru.

    There is a cat under the bed.

    ベッド (anchor) + の + 下 (under) + に (particle marking place of existence) + 猫がいる (a cat exists)

  • 私の後ろに立たないで。

    Watashi no ushiro ni tatanaide.

    Don't stand behind me.

    私 (me, as anchor) + の + 後ろ (behind) + に + 立たないで (don't stand, negative request)

  • テーブルの上にりんごがあります。

    Teeburu no ue ni ringo ga arimasu.

    There is an apple on the table.

    テーブル (anchor) + の + 上 (top/on) + に + りんごがあります (an apple exists — inanimate, so あります)

Usage notes · 注意

  • Core roster: 上 (top/above), 下 (under/below), 前 (front/before), 後ろ (behind/rear), 中 (inside), 外 (outside), 隣 (next to), 横 (beside).
  • Noun status: Japanese treats these strictly as NOUNS, not prepositions. You are literally saying "at the bed's underside," which is why the の particle is required to connect the anchor to the position word.

Commonly confused with

The JLPT rarely asks whether you recognise a pattern — it asks which of several similar patterns fits. These are the ones 上 is tested against.

vsに (place of existence) vs で (place of action)

With these position nouns you use に for simply existing there (机の上に本がある — a book is on the desk). Use で only when an action happens at that spot (机の上で書く — write on the desk).

More location

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