NihonGo
Unit 36 · Phase J

を・に・へ

Choosing the right particle by meaning

You met these back in Unit 6. Now pick the right one by what it means: を = the object, に = where something exists or a point in time, and へ = direction. (The busy particle で gets its own unit next.)

どれを つかいますか。

Pick the one that fits the meaning.

Step 1

を

the object — what you do it to

を marks the thing your action happens to — it goes right before the verb. 🔊 Tap any example to hear it.

〜を [どうし]。
ものthe thing
+
をobject
+
どうしverb
。

を marks the direct object — the thing your action happens to. It sits right before the verb.

Step 2

に

where something is, or a time / date

に has two jobs. First, it marks where something exists. 🔊 Tap to hear.

〜に [ある・いる]。
ばしょthe place
+
にexists here
+
ある／いるis / there is
。

Use に to mark WHERE something or someone exists — the spot it’s located, with あります / います.

Second, it marks a point in time — a clock time or a day/date.

〜に [じかん・ひ]。
じかん／ひtime / day
+
にat / on
+
〜do…
。

Use に for a point in TIME — a clock time, or the day/date when something happens.

Step 3

へ

direction — heading toward a place

へmarks the direction you head — with いく (go), かえる (return) or くる (come). For destinations it's interchangeable with に (にほんへ＝にほんに) — both are fine. 🔊 Tap to hear.

〜へ [いく・かえる・くる]。
ばしょplace
+
へ（＝に）toward
+
いく／かえる／くるgo / return / come
。

へ marks the DIRECTION you head, with いく (go), かえる (return) or くる (come). For destinations へ and に are interchangeable — にほんへ＝にほんに, both are correct. (Written へ, read “e”.)

Step 4

れんしゅう

Choose the particle

Pick the particle that fits the meaning. (For destinations either に or へ works, so those aren't asked here.)

Question 1 / 6 · 0 correct

fill the blankにちようび◯ やすみます。I rest on Sunday.
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