Grammar Info

N5 Lesson 8: 13/13

(だれ)

Someone, Somewhere, Not anyone, Not anywhere

The meaning of these words will change, based on whether the sentence is positive, or negative

Structure Legend

Structure

WH-Word(1) + + Particle(2)
WH-Word(1) + Particle(2) +

(1) どこ、(だれ)
(2)

Details

  • Part of Speech

    Pronoun

  • Word Type

    Adverbial Particle

  • Register

    Standard

  • 品詞

    副詞

  • 単語の種類

    副助詞

  • 使用域

    一般

About 誰か・どこか・誰も・どこも

The constructions (だれ), and どこか are used when you want to ask, or answer questions about 'someone', or 'somewhere' (positive sentences). Alternatively, 'no one', or 'nowhere' based statements are made with (だれ), and どこも (negative sentences). Structures like this that use (だれ) were briefly discussed in the (だれ) grammar point.
  • (だれ)ます
    Is anyone here?
  • 来月(らいげつ)どこか()きます
    Are you going somewhere next month?
  • (おれ)誕生日(たんじょうび)パーティー(だれ)()なかった
    No one came to my birthday party.
  • ()からどこも()ていない
    Since it is 9pm, nowhere is open.
Using (だれ), or どこ is not limited to the and particles. , , or may also be partnered with or , to give a more specific meaning.
  • (やす)()どこか()ました
    Did you go anywhere during your break?
  • (だれ)()
    Did you tell anyone? (Literally, 'did you tell it to anyone?')
  • (だれ)電話(でんわ)ている
    He is on the phone with someone.
  • 今日(きょう)どこへ()ない
    I don't want to go anywhere today. (Not even anywhere)
  • 明日(あした)(だれ)()ない
    I will not meet anyone tomorrow. (Not even anyone)
  • (わたし)(だれ)(はな)す。
    I talk to anyone. (Even anyone, but less common than でも)
As can be seen with these examples, will always precede any other particle in a positive sentence. However, the opposite is true for . will always follow any other particles in negative sentences. This is because will always attach directly to the noun (when altering the meaning of that noun), but alters the whole phrase, not just the noun.
However, It should be noted that is not limited to appearing in negative sentences, as can be seen with the final example.

Examples

  • どこかに友達(ともだち)がいるのです。」
    どこにもいません。」

    'Do you have friends somewhere?'
    'I don't have friends anywhere.'

  • (だれ)かにそのこと()いました。」
    いいえ(だれ)にも()っていません。」

    'Did you tell someone about that?'
    'No, I didn't tell anyone.'

  • どこかにあるでしょう。」
    どこにもありません。」

    'It is probably somewhere.'
    'It is not anywhere (I'm telling you).'

  • (かみ)(だれ)かに(わた)しました。」
    (だれ)にも(わた)していません。」

    'Did you hand off the paper to someone?'
    'I did not hand off the paper to anyone.'

  • どこかへ()かけます。」
    どこへも()きたくない。」

    'Do you want to go somewhere?'
    'I don't want to go anywhere, man.'

  • Get more example sentences!

    Premium users get access to 12 example sentences on all Grammar Points.

Self-Study Sentences

Study your own way!

Add sentences and study them alongside Bunpro sentences.

誰か・どこか・誰も・どこも – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (15 in total)

  • nekoyama

    nekoyama

    About 2 years ago

    Wh-words are the English question words that mostly begin with “wh” such as why, who, when, where and so on. It’s not related to Japanese, the user just went with a familiar term to refer to question words.

  • Superpnut

    Superpnut

    About 2 years ago

    Okay thanks! I thought that was what they meant but I was kinda worried it was a secret code for something and got a bit nervous. I guess to many people it’s obvious but I’ve never heard of it before

  • X11

    X11

    About 4 months ago

    Why is へ used being used with the verb 言う? だれかに いたいけど、まだだれへもわない。Is this an exception? I havn’t seen へ be used with any other verbs, other then when travelling or going some where ie いく。is へ also used with the verb 言う or is it only used with 言う when used with 誰も? as in 誰へも? are there any other verbs that don’t mean speak that take へ when used with 誰へも?Is へも the same as にも? and if it is, is it only used like that when using 誰も and is not used with any other words, for isntance although I can say 僕にも but I can’t say 僕へも? or is this a mistake on Bunpro’s part and 誰へも Is ungramatical and not said by anyone?

Got questions about 誰か・どこか・誰も・どこも? Join us to discuss, ask, and learn together!

Join the Discussion