Subject and extra information


I'm learning Japanese on Duolingo.

I was wondering:

学校は日本にあります means 'The school is in Japan'

What is the difference between 学校は日本にあります and the Japanese translation of
'There is a school in Japan'? I thought arimasu could be translated as 'there
is'...

Thanks in advance




If I am not mistaken this question is not about です at all (if so, please
change the title). It seems to be a matter of focus and of what is already
known.

> 学校 **は** 日本にあります。

means 'Talking about the school, it is in Japan.' We know of the school and we
give extra information about it.

On the other hand,

> 日本に(は)学校 **が** あります。

takes Japan for granted (so to speak) and we say something about it: 'In Japan
there are schools.'




If I am not mistaken this question is not about です at all (if so, please
change the title). It seems to be a matter of focus and of what is already
known.

> 学校 **は** 日本にあります。

means 'Talking about the school, it is in Japan.' We know of the school and we
give extra information about it.

On the other hand,

> 日本に(は)学校 **が** あります。

takes Japan for granted (so to speak) and we say something about it: 'In Japan
there are schools.'

