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JLPT N5 grammar comparison

で (place of action, means, total) vs と (and; with)

By Nihongo PathUpdated

The difference

From the で (place of action, means, total) lesson

と (and; with): と = with a person (友達と行く); で = by means of a thing (バスで行く).

From the と (and; with) lesson

で (place of action, means, total): で = by means of a thing (バスで); と = together with a person (友達と).

Side by side

で (place of action, means, total)

de (place of action, means) · JLPT N5

Meaning
"at / in (where an action happens)", "by / with (means)", "in (language)", "for (total)".
Formation
Place + で + action verb (学校で勉強します)Vehicle / tool + で (電車で、ペンで)Language + で (英語で)Quantity + で (三つで五百円、一人で)

  1. レストランで昼ご飯を食べます。

    レストランで ひるごはんを たべます。

    I eat lunch at a restaurant.

  2. バスで学校へ行きます。

    バスで がっこうへ いきます。

    I go to school by bus.

Full lesson on で (place of action, means, total)

と (and; with)

to (and, with) · JLPT N5

Meaning
"and" (exhaustive list of nouns), "with (a person)", also marks quoted speech.
Formation
Noun + と + Noun (パンと卵)Person + と + verb (友達と行きます)Person + と + 一緒に + verb (母と一緒に食べます)

  1. パンと卵を買いました。

    パンと たまごを かいました。

    I bought bread and eggs.

  2. 友達と映画を見ます。

    ともだちと えいがを みます。

    I watch a film with a friend.

Full lesson on と (and; with)

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between で (place of action, means, total) and と (and; with)?

と = with a person (友達と行く); で = by means of a thing (バスで行く).

When do you use と (and; with) instead of で (place of action, means, total)?

で = by means of a thing (バスで); と = together with a person (友達と).