Say where objects and living things are.
The rule
Location + に + thing + が + あります. For a person or an animal, usually use います.
Examples
机の上に本があります。
There's a book on the desk.
公園に犬がいます。
There's a dog in the park.
Remember
- あります: objects, things and events; います: people and animals.
- Location に + thing/person が + あります/います.
In everyday life
部屋に猫がいます。
There's a cat in the room.
駅の前に銀行があります。
There's a bank outside the station.
Common mistake
To indicate where a known thing is, you often use は: 本は机の上にあります。