15秒でわかる
- A basic tool to find people, places, or things.
- Use 'is' for one item and 'are' for many.
- Shorten it to 'Where's' for a more natural, friendly sound.
意味
You use this phrase when you are looking for a person, a place, or an object and need someone to point you in the right direction.
主な例文
3 / 6At a restaurant
Where is the restroom?
Where is the restroom?
Meeting a friend
Where is Sarah tonight?
Where is Sarah tonight?
In a business meeting
Where is the budget report?
Where is the budget report?
文化的背景
Politeness is key. Starting with 'Excuse me' or 'Sorry' is almost mandatory when asking a stranger 'Where is...?' Americans are often very direct but friendly. You might hear 'Where is [place] at?' which is common but technically redundant. When Japanese speakers use English, they might omit 'is' because of their native grammar. It's important to emphasize the verb. Hospitality is high; asking 'Where is...?' might result in someone walking you all the way to the destination rather than just giving directions.
Use the contraction
Say 'Where's' to sound more natural in daily conversation.
Singular only
Never use 'Where is' for plural things like 'shoes' or 'friends'.
15秒でわかる
- A basic tool to find people, places, or things.
- Use 'is' for one item and 'are' for many.
- Shorten it to 'Where's' for a more natural, friendly sound.
What It Means
This is your ultimate survival phrase in English. It is the simplest way to ask about the position of something. You are basically saying, 'I cannot see this thing, please help me find it.' It works for everything from a massive skyscraper to a tiny lost sock.
How To Use It
Just say Where is followed by the thing you want. If you are looking for one thing, use is. For example, Where is the bathroom? If you are looking for multiple things, change it to Where are. It is like a verbal GPS trigger. You can point at a map while saying it to be even clearer.
When To Use It
Use it whenever you feel lost or confused. Use it at the airport to find your gate. Use it at a party to find the snacks. Use it at home when you lose your phone for the fifth time today. It is perfect for quick, direct questions when you do not want to be fancy.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use it if you want to sound extremely polite to a stranger. In those cases, start with Excuse me. Do not use it if you are asking about a person's well-being. If a friend looks sad, do not ask Where is your happiness? That sounds like a weird movie villain. Stick to physical locations.
Cultural Background
English speakers value their time and efficiency. Where is? gets straight to the point. In many English-speaking cities, people are happy to help if you are brief. It is the foundational building block for navigating the Western world. It shows you are proactive and trying to find your way.
Common Variations
In casual talk, we almost always shorten it to Where's. It sounds much more natural and less like a robot. You might also hear Whereabouts is...? if someone wants a more specific area. If you are really desperate, you might just say the noun with a questioning tone, like The bus? but Where is is much better.
使い方のコツ
This is a neutral phrase suitable for almost any context. Remember to use 'is' for singular nouns and 'are' for plural nouns.
Use the contraction
Say 'Where's' to sound more natural in daily conversation.
Singular only
Never use 'Where is' for plural things like 'shoes' or 'friends'.
Politeness buffer
Always add 'Excuse me' before asking a stranger 'Where is...?'
Landmarks
In many English cultures, people give directions using landmarks (pubs, shops) rather than street names.
例文
6Where is the restroom?
Where is the restroom?
A standard, polite way to ask for facilities.
Where is Sarah tonight?
Where is Sarah tonight?
Asking about a person's location.
Where is the budget report?
Where is the budget report?
Professional inquiry about a specific document.
Where's my pizza??
Where's my pizza??
Using the contraction 'Where's' for a casual, urgent vibe.
Where is my dog?
Where is my dog?
Expressing concern about a missing loved one.
Excuse me, where is Gate 12?
Excuse me, where is Gate 12?
Combining with 'Excuse me' for polite navigation.
自分をテスト
Complete the question with 'is' or 'are'.
Where ____ my passport?
'Passport' is singular, so we use 'is'.
Which sentence is a correct question?
Asking for the bank:
In English questions, the verb 'is' must come before the subject 'the bank'.
Fill in the missing words.
A: Excuse me, ____ ____ the museum? B: It's on the next street.
The answer describes a location, so the question must be 'where is'.
Match the question to the place.
1. Where is my room? 2. Where is the milk? 3. Where is the gate?
Rooms are in hotels, milk is in supermarkets, and gates are in airports.
🎉 スコア： /4
ビジュアル学習ツール
Singular vs Plural
練習問題バンク
4 問題Where ____ my passport?
'Passport' is singular, so we use 'is'.
Asking for the bank:
In English questions, the verb 'is' must come before the subject 'the bank'.
A: Excuse me, ____ ____ the museum? B: It's on the next street.
The answer describes a location, so the question must be 'where is'.
1. Where is my room? 2. Where is the milk? 3. Where is the gate?
Rooms are in hotels, milk is in supermarkets, and gates are in airports.
🎉 スコア： /4
よくある質問
10 問Yes! 'Where is John?' is perfectly correct.
It's better to use 'Where is' in formal essays, but 'Where's' is fine for emails.
Use 'is' for one thing and 'are' for two or more things.
English questions require the verb to come before the subject. This is called inversion.
Yes, if you are looking for the physical food. If you mean the time, say 'When is breakfast?'
It is common in some US dialects, but 'Where is it?' is more standard and grammatically correct.
Simply say 'Where is London?' or 'Where is the city of London located?'
Yes, as in the song 'Where is the love?' It asks about the existence or presence of a concept.
Usually, you can guess. If you are looking for a pair of things (like glasses), use 'are'.
Yes, 'Where's' is just the shortened, contracted form used in speaking.
関連フレーズ
Where are?
similarPlural version of 'Where is?'
Where's
specialized formContraction of 'Where is'
How do I get to...?
builds onAsking for directions
Where can I find...?
synonymAsking for location in a shop
Whereabouts
similarGeneral location
