#ItWasWorthIt
#ItWasWorthIt

Japanese Lesson 7: Particles (は, が, を)

Particles (は, が, を)

  • Explanation: topic vs. subject
  • Sentences: 私は本を読みます。

In Japanese, particles are small words that connect different parts of a sentence.

  • は often marks the topic , which is what a sentence is mainly talking about.
  • の, often is used to show possession.
 

Honorifics

  • In Japanese, honorifics are added to the end of someone’s name to show respect.
  • One of the most common is さん. You can use it with most people’s names to be polite.

は (wa) – The Topic Marker

Function: Introduces what the sentence is about.
Think of it as: “As for ___…”

は sets the context. It tells the listener: This is the thing I’m talking about now.

Examples

私は学生です。
Watashi wa gakusei desu.
→ As for me, I’m a student.

今日(きょう)は暑(あつ)いです。
Kyō wa atsui desu.
→ As for today, it’s hot.

When to use は

  • When introducing a new topic
  • When shifting the topic
  • When making general statements
  • When contrasting things
    • 今日は暑いけど、明日は寒い。
      “As for today it’s hot, but tomorrow is cold.”

が (ga) – The Subject Marker

Function: Marks the grammatical subject.
Used when identifying, specifying, or highlighting something.

が introduces something important, new, or highlighted.

Examples

誰(だれ)が来(き)ますか？
Dare ga kimasu ka?
→ Who is coming?
(が marks “who” as the thing to identify.)

猫(ねこ)が好きです。
Neko ga suki desu.
→ I like cats.
(Literally: “Cats are liked.” So 猫 is the subject.)

 

When to use が

  • When answering who/what questions
  • When introducing new information
  • When emphasizing a specific subject
  • In phrases like “I like ___” or “I’m good at ___”
    • 日本語が分かります – “I understand Japanese.”

を (o) – The Object Marker

Function: Marks the direct object of a verb — the thing being acted upon.

を shows what the verb is happening to.

Examples

本(ほん)を読(よ)みます。
Hon o yomimasu.
→ I read a book.

水(みず)を飲(の)みます。
Mizu o nomimasu.
→ I drink water.

 

When to use を

  • With verbs that act on something
  • Eating, drinking, watching, reading, buying, making, etc.
    • 映画(えいが)を見(み)ます – “I watch a movie.”

は vs. が: The Big Confusion

Both can mark a “subject,” but:

は = topic (context)

が = subject (focus/emphasis)

Example:
私はケーキが好きです。
Watashi wa kēki ga suki desu.
→ As for me, I like cake.

  • 私 is the topic (we’re talking about me)
  • ケーキ is the subject of “liked”

Quick Cheat Sheet

Particle Role Think of it as Example
は Topic marker “As for…” 私は学生です
が Subject marker / emphasis “(It is) ___ that…” 猫が好きです
を Direct object marker “Verb acts on this” 水を飲みます

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