Japanese - Ask questions thread

Basically if you have a question about the language, ask it and fellow 4channers might see it and answer it for you.

To start it off. When an animate object (iru) dies, is it considered inanimate(aru)?

Whats the use of '～んです’？
As in whats the difference between something like:
家に帰るんですか
家に帰るか