Learn Hardcore Japanese: atarasii zitensya no okage de gakkou ni hayaku tukimasu. - Thanks to the new bicycle, I arrive at school early.

おかげで literally means “thanks to” and indicates a positive cause-and-effect. Here it shows that arriving early at school is a good result happening because of the new bicycle.

Why is there a の between 自転車 and おかげ?

Japanese uses the pattern Noun + の + おかげ to form “thanks to Noun.” The の simply links 自転車 and おかげ, making 自転車のおかげ = thanks to the bicycle.

How is おかげで different from せいで?

Both indicate cause, but:

おかげで carries a positive nuance (good thing happened thanks to X).
せいで carries a negative nuance (bad thing happened because of X).
So you’d never say 新しい自転車のせいで学校に早く着きます because coming early is a good outcome.

Why is 学校 marked with に instead of へ or で?

The particle に marks the destination of movement. Here the verb 着きます (“to arrive”) requires に to show arrive at a place. へ also indicates direction, but に is more specific for arrival. で would mark the location of an action, not destination.

Does 早く着きます mean “arrive quickly” or “arrive early”?

In this context, 早く means “early” rather than “quickly.” It implies arriving before the usual or scheduled time at school, not just arriving in a speedy manner.

Why is the adverb 早く placed before 着きます?

In Japanese, adverbs normally precede the verb they modify. So 早く (adverb) comes directly before 着きます (verb) to show “arrive early.”

Why is the verb in the polite form 着きます instead of the dictionary form 着く?

Using ます/です forms (polite style) is common when speaking to teachers, strangers, or in any formal context. The dictionary form 着く is plain style, which you’d use with close friends or in casual writing.