Japatan
Formation
- ここ／そこ／あそこ + は + N（場所） + です
- N + は + ここ／そこ／あそこ + です
- N + は + どこ + ですか
Explanation
These words point to places. ここ is the place where the speaker is, そこ is the place where the listener is, and あそこ is a place away from both. To ask where something is, say N は どこですか; the answer can be as short as あそこです. When speaker and listener are in the same spot, both say ここ. こちら, そちら, あちら and どちら are more polite versions.
Examples
ここは 日本語の 教室です。
This is the Japanese classroom.
すみません、トイレは どこですか。
Excuse me, where is the restroom?
駅は あそこです。
The station is over there.
入り口は そこです。
The entrance is right there (near you).
Notes
The form is あそこ, not あこ. Use これ for things and ここ for places. 会社は どこですか can ask for the name of someone's company as well as its location.
Related grammar
Mini quiz
1A: すみません、郵便局は （ ）ですか。
B: あそこです。
Answer and explanation
Answer: 3 どこ
A asks "Excuse me, where is the post office?" and B answers "It's over there." B gives a place, so the question word must be どこ (where). だれ asks about a person, いつ about time, and いくら about price.
2A: トイレは どこですか。
B: （ ）。
Answer and explanation
Answer: 1 あそこです
A asks "Where is the restroom?" The answer must give a place: あそこです (It's over there). あの needs a noun after it, and a question with どこ cannot be answered with はい.
3すみません、＿＿ ＿＿ ＿★＿ ＿＿ か。
Answer and explanation
Answer: 2 どこ
The correct order is 4→3→2→1: すみません、電話は どこですか (Excuse me, where is the telephone?). どこ cannot be followed by は, so 電話は comes first and ★ is どこ.
