Practice with に and で as Japanese Prepositions: Exercises

Mastering the intricacies of Japanese prepositions can significantly enhance your language proficiency, particularly when it comes to the versatile particles に (ni) and で (de). These particles play crucial roles in defining location, direction, time, and means, among other aspects. Understanding the subtle differences between に and で is essential for constructing accurate and meaningful sentences in Japanese. This page offers a range of exercises designed to help you distinguish between these two particles and use them correctly in various contexts, whether you're indicating a specific time, describing a place, or explaining how an action is performed. Through targeted practice, you will learn how to apply に when expressing time, direction, or the indirect object of an action, and で when indicating the means or location of an action. Each exercise is crafted to reinforce these concepts through practical examples and real-life scenarios, ensuring that you can confidently apply what you've learned in everyday conversations. Whether you're a beginner or looking to fine-tune your existing knowledge, these exercises will provide valuable practice to deepen your understanding of に and で, enabling you to communicate more effectively and naturally in Japanese.

Exercise 1

1. 私は毎朝七時*に*起きます (time indicator).

2. 友達とカフェ*で*コーヒーを飲みました (location of action).

3. 駅*で*彼に会いました (location of meeting).

4. 公園*に*行きます (destination).

5. 学校*で*勉強します (location of studying).

6. 日曜日*に*映画を見ます (specific day).

7. 東京*で*美術館を見学しました (location of activity).

8. 家*に*帰ります (destination).

9. 図書館*で*本を読みます (location of reading).

10. 午後三時*に*会議があります (time indicator).

Exercise 2

1. 公園___遊びます。(place where action takes place)

2. 学校___勉強します。(place where action takes place)

3. 駅___降ります。(location where you get off)

4. 家___帰ります。(destination)

5. カフェ___コーヒーを飲みます。(place where action takes place)

6. 病院___診察を受けます。(place where action takes place)

7. 図書館___本を借ります。(place where action takes place)

8. スーパー___買い物をします。(place where action takes place)

9. バス停___待ちます。(location where you wait)

10. 友達の家___遊びに行きます。(destination)

Exercise 3

1. 彼は学校 *に* 行きます。(destination)

2. 私は図書館 *で* 勉強します。(location of action)

3. 昨日、公園 *で* ピクニックをしました。(location of action)

4. 毎朝、駅 *に* 行きます。(destination)

5. レストラン *で* 夕食を食べました。(location of action)

6. 友達の家 *に* 行きました。(destination)

7. スーパー *で* 買い物をします。(location of action)

8. 病院 *に* 行かなければなりません。(destination)

9. 彼は映画館 *で* 映画を見ました。(location of action)

10. 先生のオフィス *に* 行きました。(destination)