Difference between どこですか and どこにいますか/どこにありますか?


> (1) 本はどこですか。
>
> (2) 本はどこにありますか。

Unless I'm mistaken, both those sentences mean something like "where is the
book", what's the difference between using です and あります to indicate position?

I wouldn't have said (2) for "where is the book" but in an exercise where the
question was "where is the switch" and the answer "next to the door", the
answer used にあります so I assumed it was also in the question. It made me wonder
when it was better to use どこですか instead of どこにありますか.

(Also, if there's an error in my sentences don't just correct them, also give
an explanation to my question please)




The verb ある is translated "be located", so there's usually little semantic
difference between どこですか？ and どこにありますか？ This rule can be further extended to
XはYにあります = XはYです for a thing X and location Y.

> 本は机の上にあります。 = 本は机の上です。 _The book is on the desk._
>
> ジョンは秋葉原にいます。 = ジョンは秋葉原です。 _John is in Akihabara._

However, of course, the extended form ～にあります is required when it's not obvious
that Y is a location name in this construction.

> ロナルドはマクドナルドです。 _Ronald is McDonald. / Ronald is at McDonald's._  
>  → ロナルドはマクドナルドにいます。 _Ronald is at McDonald's._

Now, the pronoun どこ, unlike English _where_ , can indicate not only a location
but also a **group, community or organization** (as well as ここ・そこ・あそこ), thus
also affected by the ambiguity in some context.

> 出版社はどこですか？ _Who is the publisher? / Where is the publisher?_  
>  → 出版社はどこにありますか？ _Where is the publisher?_




The verb ある is translated "be located", so there's usually little semantic
difference between どこですか？ and どこにありますか？ This rule can be further extended to
XはYにあります = XはYです for a thing X and location Y.

> 本は机の上にあります。 = 本は机の上です。 _The book is on the desk._
>
> ジョンは秋葉原にいます。 = ジョンは秋葉原です。 _John is in Akihabara._

However, of course, the extended form ～にあります is required when it's not obvious
that Y is a location name in this construction.

> ロナルドはマクドナルドです。 _Ronald is McDonald. / Ronald is at McDonald's._  
>  → ロナルドはマクドナルドにいます。 _Ronald is at McDonald's._

Now, the pronoun どこ, unlike English _where_ , can indicate not only a location
but also a **group, community or organization** (as well as ここ・そこ・あそこ), thus
also affected by the ambiguity in some context.

> 出版社はどこですか？ _Who is the publisher? / Where is the publisher?_  
>  → 出版社はどこにありますか？ _Where is the publisher?_

