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watasi ha kagi wo tukue no ue ni okimasu.

私わたし　は　鍵かぎ　を　机つくえ　の　上うえ　に　置おきます。watasi ha kagi wo tukue no ue ni okimasu.
I put the key on the desk.
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Questions & Answers about watasi ha kagi wo tukue no ue ni okimasu.

Why is は used after 私, and how is it different from が?

は is the topic marker. It tells the listener “this sentence is about 私 (‘I’). In contrast, が is the subject marker that often introduces new or specific information.

  • With 私 は …, you’re saying “As for me …”
  • With 私 が …, you’d be emphasizing “I (and not someone else) …”

In everyday speech, は is much more common when you simply want to say “I do X.”

Why is を used after 鍵, and what does it do?

を marks the direct object of a verb—in this case, 鍵 is what gets “placed.” Whatever action the verb does, it’s done to the thing before を.
Structure:
… 鍵 を 置きます → “place the key.”

What is the role of の in 机 の 上?

の is the genitive (possessive) particle, linking two nouns. Here 机 の 上 literally means “the top/above of the desk,” i.e. “on top of the desk.”

  • A の B = “B of A” or “A’s B”
Why do we use に after 上, and why not で?
  • に marks a destination or goal: you’re putting something to that location.
  • で marks where an action takes place (e.g. “I study at school” = 学校 で 勉強します).

Since 置きます is an action of placing something onto a spot, you use に.

Can I reorder the sentence? For example, start with 机 の 上 に or drop 私?

Yes. Japanese word order is flexible as long as the verb stays last:

  • 私 は 鍵 を 机 の 上 に 置きます
  • 鍵 を 机 の 上 に （私 は）置きます

  • 机 の 上 に 鍵 を 置きます

    You can also drop 私 は if context makes “I” clear:

  • 鍵を机の上に置きます。

Why is the verb in the -ます form (置きます), and what’s the dictionary form?

The -ます form is the polite form used in formal or unfamiliar situations.

  • Polite present/future: 置きます (okimasu)
  • Dictionary (plain) form: 置く (oku)

In casual speech you’d say 鍵を机の上に置く。

Does 置きます mean “I place” (habitually) or “I will place” (future)?

Japanese non-past covers both present and future.

  • 鍵を置きます。 can mean “I place the key” (habitual) or “I will place the key” (planned).
    Context usually tells you which one.
How do you read each word in this sentence?
  • 私 = わたし (watashi)
  • 鍵 = かぎ (kagi)
  • 机 = つくえ (tsukue)
  • 上 = うえ (ue)
  • 置きます = おきます (okimasu)