tomodachi to kuji ni yakusoku ga arimasu.

friend

Breakdown of tomodachi to kuji ni yakusoku ga arimasu.

• と: companion particle
• が: subject particle
• に: time particle

Questions & Answers about tomodachi to kuji ni yakusoku ga arimasu.

Why is the subject omitted in this sentence? How do we know who has the appointment?

Japanese often drops the subject when it’s clear from context. Here, because you’re talking about your own schedule, it’s understood that I (the speaker) have the appointment. If you needed to clarify, you could say 私は友達と九時に約束があります.

What does と indicate in 友達と?

The particle と here means “together with” or “with.” It connects 友達 (friend) to the action or event, indicating you have an arrangement with a friend.

Why is に used after 九時?

に marks a specific point in time. When you want to say “at nine o’clock,” you attach に to 九時. Without に, the time wouldn’t be properly specified as the moment the appointment occurs.

Why is が used before あります?

In the pattern X が あります, が marks X as the subject (or the thing that exists). Here, 約束 is the thing that “exists” or is in your schedule. So 約束がある literally means “an appointment exists.”

Could we replace が with in ?