How to Ask if a Store Has Something in Stock - Examples and Variations

Master how to ask if a store has something in stock with the key pattern

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Let’s look at some more examples.

Listen and repeat or speak along with the native speakers.

しおは　ありますか。(Shio wa arimasu ka.)

ぎゅうにゅうは　ありますか。(Gyūnyū wa arimasu ka.)

りんごは　ありますか。(Ringo wa arimasu ka.)

こしょうは　ありますか。(Koshō wa arimasu ka.)

さとうは　どこですか。(Satō wa doko desu ka.)

Did you notice how I used a different pattern?

さとうは　どこですか。

"Where is the sugar?"

First is さとう (satō) , “sugar.” さとう. さとう.

After this is は (wa), the topic-marking particle. は。

It marks さとう, “sugar,” as the topic of the sentence. Think of it like "as for" in the expression "as for sugar."

Next is どこ (doko), “where.” どこ. どこ.

After this is です (desu). Here, it’s like the “is” in “where is.” です.

Last is the particle, か (ka), the question-marking particle. か.

This particle turns the sentence into a question.

All together, it’s さとうは　どこですか。This literally means “as for sugar, where [it] is,” but it translates as, “Where is the sugar?” さとうは　どこですか。

You should be aware of this pattern, but you won’t need it for this lesson.

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