でAction or event location
で marks the place where someone performs an action or where an event occurs.
Marking where something happens
Put で immediately after the place. The rest of the sentence tells you what action is performed or what event occurs there.
An everyday action
学校で昼ご飯を食べます。
I eat lunch at school.
AnalyzeAn event
来週、市民会館でコンサートがあります。
There will be a concert at the civic hall next week.
AnalyzeHere, the concert is an event taking place at the hall.
Asking where
Action or event versus existence
Choose the particle by what the sentence says about the place. Use で when an action or event happens there. Use に when a person or thing simply exists there. The verb alone does not settle the choice: an event expressed with ある can still take で.
Using it with other details
A sentence can also include a subject, object, time, or destination. These details do not change the location marker: if the place is where the action itself happens, use で.
More examples
子どもたちは庭で遊んでいます。
The children are playing in the yard.
Analyze毎朝、台所で朝ご飯を食べます。
I eat breakfast in the kitchen every morning.
Analyze日曜日に公園で写真を撮りました。
I took pictures in the park on Sunday.
Analyzeこの店で野菜を買います。
I buy vegetables at this store.
Analyze午後、体育館で試合があります。
There is a game in the gym this afternoon.
Analyze駅の近くで事故がありました。
An accident occurred near the station.
Analyze