Particles: Wa VS Ga

Frequently Asked Questions

Particles are probably one of the most difficult and confusing aspects of Japanese
sentences. Among particles, the question I am often asked is about the use of
"wa（は）" and "ga（が）." They seems to make many people confused, but don't be
intimidated by them! Let's have a look at the functions of these particles.

Topic Marker and Subject Marker

Roughly speaking, "wa" is a topic marker, and "ga" is a subject marker. The topic is
often the same as the subject, but not necessary. The topic can be anything that a
speaker wants to talk about (It can be an object, location or any other grammatical
element). In this sense, it is similar to the English expressions, "As for ~" or "Speaking
of ~."

Watashi wa gakusei desu. I am a student.

私は学生です。 (As for me, I am a student.)

Japanese is interesting.
Nihongo wa omoshiroi desu.
(Speaking of Japanese,
日本語は面白いです。
it is interesting.)

Basic Differences Between Ga and Wa

"Wa" is used to mark something that has already been introduced into the
conversation, or is familiar with both a speaker and a listener. (proper nouns, genetic
names etc.) "Ga" is used when a situation or happening is just noticed or newly
introduced. See the following example.

Mukashi mukashi, ojii-san ga sunde

imashita. Ojii-san wa totemo
Once upon a time, there lived an old man.
shinsetsu deshita.
He was very kind.
昔々、おじいさんが住んでいました。
おじいさんはとても親切でした。

In the first sentence, "ojii-san" is introduced for the first time. It is the subject, not the
topic. The second sentence describes about "ojii-san" that is previously mentioned.
"Ojii-san" is now the topic, and is marked with "wa" instead of "ga."

Wa as Contrast

Beside being a topic marker, "wa" is used to show contrast or to emphasize the
subject.

Biiru wa nomimasu ga, I drink beer,

wain wa nomimasen. but I don't drink wine.
ビールは飲みますが、
 ワインは飲みません。

The thing being contrasted may or may not stated, but with this usage, the contrast is
implied.

Ano hon wa yomimasen deshita. I didn't read that book

あの本は読みませんでした。 (though I read this one).

Particles such as "ni（に）," "de（で）," "kara（から）" and "made（まで）" can be

combined with "wa" (double particles) to show contrast.

Osaka ni wa ikimashita ga,

Kyoto ni wa ikimasen deshita. I went to Osaka,
大阪には行きましたが、 but I didn't go to Kyoto.
京都には行きませんでした。

Koko de wa tabako o
suwanaide kudasai. Please don't smoke here
ここではタバコを (but you may smoke there).
吸わないでください。

Whether "wa" indicates a topic or a contrast, it depends on the context or the

intonation.

Ga with Question Words

When a question word such as "who" and "what" is the subject of a sentence, it is
always followed by "ga," never by "wa." To answer the question, it also has to be
followed by "ga."

Dare ga kimasu ka.

Who is coming?
誰が来ますか。

Yoko ga kimasu.
Yoko is coming.
陽子が来ます。

Ga as Emphasis

"Ga" is used for emphasis, to distinguish a person or thing from all others. If a topic is
marked with "wa," the comment is the most important part of the sentence. On the
other hand, if a subject is marked with "ga," the subject is the most important part of
the sentence. In English, these differences are sometimes expressed in tone of voice.
Compare these sentences.

Taro wa gakkou ni ikimashita.

Taro went to school.
太郎は学校に行きました。
 Taro ga gakkou ni ikimashita. Taro is the one
太郎が学校に行きました。 who went to school.

Ga in a Special Circumstance

The object of the sentence is usually marked by the particle "o," but some verbs and
adjectives (expressing like/dislike, desire, potential, necessity, fear, envy etc.) take
"ga" instead of "o."

Kuruma ga hoshii desu.

I want a car.
車が欲しいです。

Nihongo ga wakarimasu.
I understand Japanese.
日本語が分かります。

Ga in Subordinate Clauses

The subject of a subordinate clause normally takes "ga" to show that the subjects of
the subordinate and main clauses are different.

Watashi wa Mika ga kekkon shita koto

o shiranakatta. I didn't know that
私は美香が結婚した Mika got married.
ことを知らなかった。

Review

Now let's review the rules about "wa" and "ga."

wa ga
は が
* Subject marker
* With question words
* Topic marker
* Emphasize
* Contrast
* Instead of "o"
* In subordinate clauses

Particles: De

What are particles?

Particles are probably one of the most difficult and confusing aspects of Japanese
sentences. A particle (joshi) is a word that shows the relationship of a word, a phrase,
or a clause to the rest of the sentence. Some particles have English equivalents.
Others have functions similar to English prepositions, but since they always follow the
word or words they mark, they are post-positions. There are also particles that have a
peculiar usage which is not found in English. Most particles are multi-functional. Click
here to learn more about particles.

The Particle "De"

Place of Action

It indicates the place where an action takes place. It translates into "in", "at", "on",
and so on.

Depaato de kutsu o katta. I bought shoes

デパートで靴を買った。 at the department store.
Umi de oyoida.
I swam in the ocean.
海で泳いだ。

Means

It indicates means, method, or instruments. It translates into "by", "with", "in" "by
means of", etc.

Basu de gakkou ni ikimasu.

I go to school by bus.
バスで学校に行きます。
Nihongo de hanashite kudasai.
Please speak in Japanese.
日本語で話してください。

Totalizing

It is placed after a quantity, time or amount of money, and indicates an extent.

San-nin de kore o tsukutta.

Three of us made this.
三人でこれを作った。
Zenbu de sen-en desu.
They cost 1,000 yen altogether.
全部で千円です。

Scope

It translates into "in", "among", "within", etc.

Kore wa sekai de
ichiban ookii desu. This is the biggest in the world.
これは世界で一番大きいです。
Nihon de doko ni ikitai desu ka. Where do you want to go
日本でどこに行きたいですか。 in Japan?
Time Limit

It indicates time consumed for a certain action or occurrence. It translates into "in",
"within", etc.

Ichijikan de ikemasu.
We can get there in an hour.
一時間で行けます。
Isshuukan de dekimasu.
I can do it in a week.
一週間でできます。

Material

It indicates the composition of an object.

Toufu wa daizu de tsukurimasu.

Tofu is made from soybeans.
豆腐は大豆で作ります。
Kore wa nendo de tsukutta
hachi desu. This is a bowl made of clay.
これは粘土で作ったはちです。

Required Cost

It translates into "for", "at", etc.

Kono hon o juu-doru de katta.

I bought this book for ten dollars.
この本を十ドルで買った。
Kore wa ikura de okuremasu ka. How much would it cost
これはいくらで送れますか。 to send this?

Cause

It indicates a casual reason or motive for an action or occurrence. It translates into

"due to", "because of", "owing to", etc.

Kaze de gakkou o yasunda. I was absent from school

風邪で学校を休んだ。 due to a cold.
Fuchuui de kaidan kara ochita. I fell down the stairs
不注意で階段から落ちた。 due to carelessness.

DAKE
The Precise Limit-Indicating Particle
The basic function of "dake" is to indicate that what precedes
it is a precise limit.
Examples:
Itijikan dake matte kudasai.
one hour wait please
Please wait (just) one hour.
If the context indicates that the extent of the limit is neutral, (as in
the above example), then the use of dake will have the effect of "just".
If the context indicates that the extent of the limit is small, then the
use of dake will have the effect of "only".
If the context indicates that the extent of the limit is large, then the
use of dake will have the effect of "enough".

Compared with hodo "the extent-indicating particle":

Itijikan hodo matte kudasai.
one hour wait please
Please wait (about) one hour.
Hon o sansatu dake kaimasita.
book(s) three bought
(I) bought (only) three books.
Compared with hodo "the extent-indicating particle":
Hon o jussatu hodo kaimasita.
book(s) ten bought
(I) bought (about) ten books.
dake has two other major functions:
(1)
Following the verb dekiru "can" and followed by the adverbial form
of an adjective, such as: hayai "fast" ---> hayaku "quickly, early"
Dekiru dake hayaku yatte kudasai.
can quickly do please
Please do (it) (as) quickly (as) (you) can.
Dekiru dake ookiku kaite kudasai.
can large do please
Please write (it) (as) large (as) (you) can.
(2)
As part of the expression dake de naku:
Kanojo wa Nihongo dake de naku Furansugo mo dekimasu.
She Japanese French can
She can (speak) (not only) Japanese, (but) (also) French.
Sample Sentences:
Biiru dake kaimasita.
beer bought
(I) bought (only) beer.
Kinou rokunin dake kimasita.
Yesterday six people came
Yesterday (only) six people came.
Nisenen bun dake irete kudasai.
two thousand yen worth put in please
Please put in (only) two thousand yen worth.
(in talking to a gasoline station attendant)
Dekiru dake hayaku denwa site kudasai.
can soon telephone please
Please phone (as) soon (as you) can.
Dekiru dake hayaku yarimasu yo.
can quickly do
(I'll) do (it) (as) quickly (as) (I) can!
Susi dake de naku nattou mo suki desu yo.
sushi fermented soybeans like
(I) like (not only) sushi (but) (also) fermented soybeans!

DE
The Place or Means of Action-Indicating Particle

While the structural particle "o" indicates what the action

of a verb acts on, the structural particle "de" is used to indicate
the "place" or "location" where the action occurs.
A second function of "de" is to indicate the "means" by which an
action is performed or something that is used to perform an action.
Examples
Uchi de Nihongo o benkyou shimasu.
home Japanese study
(I) study Japanese (at) home.
Shinkansen de Oosaka ni ikimasita.
bullet train Osaka went
(I) went (to) Osaka (by) bullet train.
Waapuro de Nihongo no tegami o kakimasita.
word processor Japanese letter wrote
(I) wrote (a) Japanese letter (using) (a) word processor.
If the verb of an utterance is not primarily concerned with action
then de is not used to indicate a location. ni is used for this
purpose:
Toukyou de hataraite imasu.
Tokyo working
(I) am working (in) Tokyo.
Toukyou ni sunde imasu.
Tokyo live
(I) live (in) Tokyo.
"de" also has several other functions:

To indicate a geographical area, class, or category in which something

is the largest, smallest, newest, and so forth.
Nihon de ichiban ookii
Japan most large
the largest (in) Japan
pasokon de ichiban atarashii
personal computer most new
the newest (among) personal computers

To indicate a range of time or a sum of money.

Nihongo o sankagetsu de oboemasita.
Japanese three months learned
(I) learned Japanese (in) three months.
Itiman en de kaimasita.
10,000 yen bought
(I) bought (it) (for) 10,000 yen.

To indicate a group or number of people.

Hitori de Nihongo o oboemasita.
one person Japanese learned
(I) learned Japanese (by) myself. (literally: one person)
Kono sigoto o futari de yarimashou
This job two people let's do
Let's (the) two (of us) do this job.
Sample Sentences:
Tsugi no kado de tomete kudasai.
next corner stop please
Please stop (the taxi) (at) (the) next corner.
Gakkou de Nihongo o benkyou site imasu.
school Japanese studying
(I) (am) studying Japanese (at) school.
Kono kamera wa sanman en de kaimasita.
this camera 30,000 yen bought
(I) bought this camera (for) 30,000 yen.
Konpyuuta de Nihongo o benkyou site imasu.
computer Japanese studying
(I) (am) studying Japanese (using a) computer.
Takusi de ikimasu ka tikatetu de ikimasu ka.
taxi go subway go
(Shall we) go (by) taxi (or) go (by) subway?
Sannin de eiga o mi ni ikimasita.
three people movie see went
(The) three (of us) went (to) see (a) movie.

Particles: Ni
 Related Resources
• Particles

Elsewhere on the Web

• A Guide to the Functions
of
Structural Particles in
Japanese
• The Japanese particles

What are particles?

Particles are probably

one of the most
difficult and confusing
aspects of Japanese
sentences. A particle
(joshi) is a word that
shows the relationship
of a word, a phrase, or
a clause to the rest of
the sentence. Some
particles have English
equivalents. Others
have functions similar
to English prepositions,
but since they always
follow the word or
words they mark, they
are post-positions.
There are also particles
that have a peculiar
usage which is not
found in English. Most
particles are multi-
functional. Click here to
learn more about
particles.

The Particle "Ni"

Indirect Object
Marker

An indirect object
usually precedes a
direct object.

u tomodachi ni
ami o kakimasu.
達に手紙を書きます。

a watashi ni hon o
私に本をくれました。

Some Japanese verbs

such as "au (to meet)"
and "kiku (to ask)"
take an indirect object,
though their English
counterparts do not.

tomodachi ni atta.
I met my friend at the station.

Location of Existence

"Ni" is typically used

with verbs such as "iru
(to exist)," "aru (to
exist)" and "sumu (to
live)." It translates into
"at" or "in."

e ni neko ga imasu.
There is a cat on the chair.
の上に猫がいます。

shin wa Osaka ni
My parents live in Osaka.
大阪に住んでいます。

Direct Contract

"Ni" is used when a

motion or action is
directed at or onto an
object or place.

Please write your name here.

名前を書いてください。

o hangaa ni kaketa.
I hung a coat on the hanger.
をハンガーにかけた。

Direction

"Ni" can be translated

as "to" when indicating
 a destination.

n nihon ni ikimasu.
I'm going to Japan next year.
年日本に行きます。

inkou ni ikimashita.
I went to the bank yesterday.
銀行に行きました。

Purpose

I went to see a movie.

gohan o tabe ni
I went home to eat lunch.
を食べにうちに 帰った。

Specific Time

"Ni" is used with

various time
expressions (year,
month, day, and clock
time) to indicate a
specific point in time,
and translates into
"at," "on," or "in."
However, the
expressions of relative
time such as today,
tomorrow don't take
the particle "ni."

ji ni ie o demasu.
I leave home at eight o'clock.

ikka ni umaremashita.
I was born on May 3rd.
三日に生まれました。

Source

"Ni" indicates an agent

or a source in passive
or causative verbs. It
translates into "by" or
"from".

a ni shikarareta. I was scolded by my mother.

 igo o oshietemoratta.
I was taught English by Tom.
英語を教えてもらった。

Notion of Per

"Ni" is used with

frequency expressions
such as per hour, per
day, per person, etc.

ikan ni juu-doru
atte kuremasu.
十ドル払ってくれます。

an ni sanjuu-jikan
I work 30 hours per week.
に三十時間働きます。