Particle で: Expressing Supplementary Information

Last time, you learned how to use objects with Japanese verbs, like 本ほんを読よみます. Then, if you say, “I will read books at the library,” what should it be like? Here, you will learn how to give more contexts by using the particle で.

Explanation for How the Particle で Works

You have learned three sentence structures so far, which are (1) State-of-Being: 私わたしは先生せんせいだ, (2) Subject + Verb: 私わたしは走はしる, and (3) Subject + Object + Verb: 私わたしは歌うたを歌うたう. Since で can express supplementary information, you can add the で part anywhere before the verb in a sentence. Let’s go over the seven functions.

Seven Functions of the Particle で

Location of Action

The first function is to express locations of actions. Here are more examples.

(Advanced Topic) で: Location of Action VS. を: Location to Pass

川かわ で・を （泳およぐ / 泳およぎます）。

You can use either で or を when all of the actions are performed at a single location. However, the nuance is different. When you use で, you are likely to focus on the action and when you use を, you are likely to focus on the location, e. g. “Where can we swim in?” => 川で泳ぐ (*The place doesn’t have to be a river) and “How can we cross the river?” => 川を泳ぐ (*You have to swim in the river).

交こう差さ点てん で・を （待まつ / 待まちます）。

In this context, you can use only で because "待まつ: to wait" doesn't require locations to pass, but direct objects. Thus, if you use を, it will mean "I will wait for the crossroad," which doesn't make sense.  

Material

The second function is to express materials. This function is most commonly used with direct objects set by the particle を. Here are more examples.

Means

The third function is to express means. This usage appears with elements such as destinations (に), direct objects (を), and partners of interaction (と). Here are more examples.

Reason (Causation)

The fourth function is to express reason or causation. Here are more examples.

Range (Period of Time)

The fifth function is to express ranges. This also applies to periods of time. Here are more examples.

(Advanced Topic)  Duration With or Without で  

There is a case that you don't use the particle で even if you express a period of time. If you express actions which take place for a while,  the particle で is not generally used. When you use the particle で, it indicates that you will complete actions. Here are the comparisons.  

When you express actions which take place for a moment such as "着つく: to arrive" and "起おきる: to get up," you have to use the particle で.

Amount

The sixth function is to express amount. In this context, で can be placed after any word which indicates quantity. Here are more examples.

State

The last function is to express states. Here are more examples.

Summary

1. The particle で can express;
   • Location of Action
   • Material
   • Means
   • Reason (Causation)
   • Range (Period of Time)
   • Amount
   • State

Now you can use the particle で to express various things. Memorizing all of the functions may not be easy, however, you will find this to be a very useful and powerful particle once you have got used to them. Next, you will learn the particles から and まで.