tukue no hasi ni memotyou wo okimasu.

I put the notepad at the edge of the desk.

Breakdown of tukue no hasi ni memotyou wo okimasu.

• を: direct object particle
• の: possessive case particle
• に: location particle
• 机つくえ: desk
• 置おく: to put
• メモ帳ちょう: notepad
• 端はし: edge

Questions & Answers about tukue no hasi ni memotyou wo okimasu.

Why is there a の between 机 and 端? Why not just say 机端?

In Japanese, when one noun modifies another, you almost always put の between them:

• Noun A + の + Noun B

Here, 机の端 literally means “the edge of the desk” (desk of edge).

So:

• 机 = desk
• 端 = edge
• 机の端 = the desk’s edge / the edge of the desk

You generally cannot just stick two nouns together like 机端 the way English might use a compound noun. You need の to show the relationship.

Why is the particle に used after 端, as in 端に? Could we use で instead?

に and で both mark locations, but they’re used differently.

• に: marks the location where something exists, is placed, or ends up
• で: marks the location where an action is performed

In this sentence:

• 机の端にメモ帳を置きます。
  = “(I) will put a notepad on the edge of the desk.”

You’re specifying where the notepad ends up / is placed, so you use に.

If you said 机の端でメモ帳を置きます, it would sound like “At the edge of the desk, I (do the action of) placing the notepad (somewhere),” which is unnatural and confusing here. The important point is the final location of the notepad, so に is correct.

Why does メモ帳 take the particle を? What does を mean here?

を marks the direct object of a verb – the thing that the action is done to.

• メモ帳を置きます。
  = “(I) put the notepad.”

So:

• メモ帳 = notepad
• を = marks it as the object
• 置きます = (I) put / place

In other words, メモ帳 is what gets placed, so it takes を.

Does 置きます mean present tense (“I put”) or future tense (“I will put”)?

Japanese doesn’t separate present and future the way English does. The -ます form (non‑past) can cover:

• Present / habitual: “I usually put my notepad on the edge of the desk.”
• Future / planned: “I will put my notepad on the edge of the desk.”
• Instruction / request (depending on context): “(Please) put the notepad on the edge of the desk.”

So 置きます by itself is just “(I) put / (I) will put,” and you understand the time from context.

How is 端 read, and what does it mean exactly? Is it the same as 箸（はし）?

In this sentence, 端 is read はし.

• 端（はし） = edge, end, corner, tip
• 箸（はし） = chopsticks (different kanji, same reading)

机の端 means “the edge of the desk,” i.e., not the middle area, but the part close to the side/border.

Same pronunciation, but:

• 端 (edge) – the shape/limit of something
• 箸 (chopsticks) – the utensil

Context and kanji tell you which is meant.

Could I say メモ帳を机の端に置きます instead? Is the word order fixed?

Yes, メモ帳を机の端に置きます is also correct and natural.

Japanese word order is relatively flexible as long as:

1. The verb comes at the end (here: 置きます)
2. Particles clearly show each word’s role (を, に, の)

Common patterns:

• 机の端にメモ帳を置きます。
• メモ帳を机の端に置きます。

Both mean the same thing. The choice can depend on what you want to emphasize or what’s already known in the conversation, but grammatically they’re both fine.

Why is there no subject like “I” or “you” in the sentence?

Japanese often omits the subject when it’s clear from context.

• 机の端にメモ帳を置きます。
  Literally: “At the desk’s edge, a notepad (object) put (polite).”

Who is doing the action?

• If you’re talking about what you will do, it means “I will put…”
• If a boss is instructing an employee, it could mean “(You) put…”
• In instructions/manuals, it can function like “Put the notepad on the edge of the desk.”

The subject is “understood” from the situation, so it’s left out. This is very normal in Japanese.

What is the difference between 置きます, 置いています, and 置いてあります?

These are all related to 置く (to put/place), but the nuances differ:

1. 置きます

   • Focus on the act of putting.
   • “I will put / I put (it).”

2. 置いています (progressive/continuous)

   • Literally “is putting,” but usually means “(something) is placed (and currently there).”
   • 机の端にメモ帳が置いています。
     → “There is a notepad placed on the edge of the desk.”
     (Natural Japanese would more often use 置いてあります for this.)

3. 置いてあります (resultative)

   • Focus on the result of having been placed (for some purpose).
   • 机の端にメモ帳が置いてあります。
     → “There is a notepad (that has been put) on the edge of the desk (for use).”

In your sentence, we care about the action of putting, so 置きます is appropriate.

What is the politeness level of 置きます compared to 置く?

• 置く = plain form (dictionary form)
• 置きます = polite -ます form

Use 置きます:

• With strangers, customers, teachers, superiors, etc.
• In most formal or neutral situations
• In textbooks, beginner dialogues, etc.

Use 置く:

• With close friends or family
• In casual conversation
• In dictionary entries, grammar explanations

Same basic meaning, different politeness levels.

Could I say 机の上にメモ帳を置きます instead of 机の端に? What’s the difference?

Yes, you can say:

• 机の上にメモ帳を置きます。
  = “I will put the notepad on top of the desk.”

Difference in nuance:

• 机の上に: on the surface of the desk in general (anywhere on top)
• 机の端に: specifically on the edge/side area of the desk

So 端 is more precise: it tells you where on the desk the item is placed.

What’s the nuance difference between メモ帳 and ノート?

Both can be translated as “notebook,” but they’re used a bit differently:

• メモ帳

  • A small pad for quick notes
  • Often tear‑off pages, memo pad, sticky notes, pocket-sized
  • “Notepad / memo pad”

• ノート

  • A larger notebook used for classes, diaries, journals, etc.
  • Bound pages you don’t usually tear out
  • “Notebook”

So in 机の端にメモ帳を置きます, you’re talking about a small notepad you might keep handy on the edge of your desk for jotting down quick notes.