Japatan
Formação
- N（場所） + で + V
- N（乗り物・道具・ことば） + で + V
Explicação
で has two main uses. First, it marks the place where an action is done: 図書館で 勉強します (I study at the library). Second, it marks the means or tool: a vehicle (バスで 行きます, go by bus), a tool (はしで 食べます, eat with chopsticks) or a language (日本語で 話します, speak in Japanese). Ask about the place with どこで and about the means with 何で.
Exemplos
私は 毎日 図書館で 勉強します。
I study at the library every day.
毎朝 バスで 会社に 行きます。
I go to work by bus every morning.
A: どこで 昼ごはんを 食べますか。
B: 公園で 食べます。A: Where do you eat lunch? B: I eat in the park.
私は 日本語で 手紙を 書きます。
I write letters in Japanese.
Observações
For going on foot, do not use で; say 歩いて 行きます. Use で for the place of an action and に／へ for a destination (✕ 図書館に 勉強します). 何で can also be read なんで, but なんで can mean "why" as well, so なにで is clearer for asking about the means.
Gramática relacionada
Miniquiz
1私は 毎晩 うち（ ） テレビを 見ます。
Resposta e explicação
Resposta: 3 で
"I watch TV at home every evening." うち is the place where the action of watching TV happens, so it takes で. に and へ mark a destination, not the place of an action, and を marks the object (here テレビ).
2毎朝 電車（ ） 学校に 行きます。
Resposta e explicação
Resposta: 2 で
"I go to school by train every morning." 電車 is the means of transport, so it takes で. に and へ mark the destination (here 学校), and を marks an object.
3A: どこで 昼ごはんを 食べますか。
B: （ ）。
Resposta e explicação
Resposta: 4 食堂で 食べます
A asks "Where do you eat lunch?" どこで asks for the place of the action, so the answer is 食堂で 食べます (I eat in the cafeteria). はしで (with chopsticks) gives a tool, not a place, and に or を cannot mark the place of an action.
