Questions tagged [は-and-が]
「は」と「が」. The difference between the は (topic) and が (subject) particles.
67
questions
1
vote
2
answers
193
views
は in 名詞節 (content clauses)
I'm not sure what I'm missing here, but
来年の1月には35歳になりますが、サッカーは年齢じゃないということを証明していきたいですし、若い選手に負けないように頑張りたいと思います。(source)
我々はお荷物じゃないことを証明しよう。
Aren't those 名詞節? Is the rule about は not occurring in ...
2
votes
0
answers
92
views
...はいい=not needed ≠...がいい? Does ...はいい have no subject?
I am trying to ask a question with several linked open ends at once.
いい has the meaning that something is not needed. It seems to be related to the distinction of は vs が. For example here is a ...
0
votes
1
answer
109
views
In the sentence, "母がすしを作ります。", why do we use が instead of は?
My book sentence: 母がすしを作ります。
I consulted another book, which states:
The case particle ga can mark the subject of the sentence. However, when the subject noun is also treated as the topic of the ...
1
vote
1
answer
84
views
What nuance does the が particle add in the following sentence? At what time would each sentence be more appropriate?
両親は結婚した時、どこにも行きませんでした。
VS
両親が結婚した時、どこにも行きませんでした。
0
votes
1
answer
136
views
割り切れないのが~:割り切る+のは/のが
This is going to be a bit lengthy so please bear with me. I'll start with an excerpt from a game that has sparked this whole fiasco and sent me on a wild goose chase:
ゼロス「...
2
votes
1
answer
109
views
Difference in sentences using は+が vs は+は
So I've come across these two sentences:
雨は降っていますが、雪は降っていません
and
雨は降っていません。雪が降っています。
so what i think is happening is that the first sentence shows contrast.
in the first sentence, we simply ...
4
votes
2
answers
181
views
が vs. は in のが/のは...である cleft-sentence structure
The following is a sentence from the Japanese Wikipedia article about Berlin:
ベルリンという名称が歴史的文書で最も古く遡れるのが1244年である。
I understand the sentence, but I would have expected 遡れるのは here instead of 遡れるのが, ...
1
vote
1
answer
97
views
は versus が in this sentence
In the Genki 1 textbook, the question prompt
本を読んでいる人は誰ですか?
appears alongside an illustration with a bunch of people doing different activities. The textbook user is then supposed to pick out a ...
0
votes
1
answer
90
views
Can が be replaced by something else in this structure?
So reviewing basic grammar I've come across a structure where you use は and が to show contrast in the following way:
(私は)土曜日は暇ですが、日曜日は忙しいです。
This sentence sounds right to me, but it would sound ...
1
vote
2
answers
432
views
Conflicting rules for when to use は vs が
I came across this video on the difference that I found particularly helpful, but there was a special case not addressed in the video that I was curious about. I will summarize the video here as I ...
0
votes
1
answer
109
views
は vs が in neutral sentences
I have a couple of situations I was hoping someone could help me understand if が or は is more appropriate in the following situations.
Scenario A: Describing what a person is doing.
You are by ...
1
vote
1
answer
124
views
difference when using は and が with てくれる structure
So, I think that I'm not alone when it comes to being confused about when は and が are supposed to be used, but here I would like to ask about a specific example
浅野君は(私に)かわいい手袋を編んでくれた
x
浅野君が(私に)...
6
votes
2
answers
191
views
Usage of が in this paragraph
Once again I have been stumped over the usage of particles in a passage from my textbook.
先生: 最近、アメリカでも魚や豆腐を食べている人が増えてきたらしいです。
学生: はい。
先生: アメリカでも、ヘルシーな食べ物[が]{L}人気[が]{L}出てきたということです。
The paragraph ...
2
votes
1
answer
109
views
No が in a sentence
If there's no が in a sentence, should I assume that は marks both the topic & the action-doer? It seems like that's the case every time I encounter sentences without が.
1
vote
1
answer
95
views
は vs が in the following passage
ジェームズは事務所で仕事をしています。
彼は毎日とても忙しいです。
彼はお客様と多くの会議をします。
ジェームズはこのような会議は好きではありません。
彼は「お客様がとても退屈しているのでは」と思っています。
The sentence ジェームズはこのような会議は好きではありません sounds like James does not like this kind of meeting (...
3
votes
1
answer
131
views
How does this passive sentence work?
I'm confused with this sentence.
顔はやや仰向きがち に、天の栄光をながめやる 目が、深くやすらか にみひらかれて いた。
I would like to understand how it's constructed.
I think 目 is the passive subject of みひらかれて いた as が is its particle, ...
2
votes
1
answer
220
views
Does the sentence 『ボブは魚は好きだ』 make sense?
This question is essentially about the particle 「が」.
I saw the example sentence 「ボブは魚が好きだ」 from the textbook.
This is how I understand it:
"As for Bob, Fish that is likable is. ---> Likebale fish ...
0
votes
1
answer
140
views
は and が function
I just learned about が and は Rule.
I just want to say "If I died" in Japanese. So I typed it. All I see is 私が死んだら
Can I say "私は死んだら" (は is put to emphasize what comes after は. So I think in the ...
3
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Using は before 欲しい instead が
I was doing some exercises and the book that I'm using translated:
I don't want shoes
to
靴は欲しくないです
I answered using が particle instead は, since, as far as I know, I should use が before 欲しい. ...
4
votes
1
answer
185
views
「侵入したのが〇〇」なぜ「は」ではなく「が」でしょうか
最近この文章を見かけました。
中王国はエジプト初の外来民族の侵入によって衰退しました。侵入したのが混成民族集団ヒクソス。これがアジア方面から侵入した。
太字にした「が」は、なぜ「は」ではないのでしょうか。前の文では、ある侵入が起こったことがすで述べられたので、問題の文の目的は侵入したのは誰かということになるのではないでしょうか。したがって、その文の焦点が「侵入したの」ではなく、「...
12
votes
1
answer
635
views
Why is this sentence ungrammatical? 「お寺が公園のとなりです。」
I wrote this sentence (meaning "The temple is next to the park") in my Japanese course and my teacher said it's wrong, because I was supposed to use a は instead of a が.
My understanding is that there ...
1
vote
1
answer
151
views
The use of が, は and を in 私は総てを愛している
Is the を interchangeable with が in this case?
And if I say 私が総てを愛している does it mean 'I'm everything that I love'?
0
votes
2
answers
222
views
Sushi wa sukidesuka vs sushi ga sukidesuka?
According to Google, I should use ga:
(Anata wa) sushi ga sukidesuka?
Why ga and not wa?
2
votes
2
answers
213
views
Are there some cases where は and が are interchangable?
I understand that は and が can be very different in meaning & emotion, and some structures require one of them. However, are there some cases where I can use either of them but the sentence remains ...
0
votes
1
answer
156
views
Do we really have to change particles (usually が into は) in negative and interrogative sentences?
Which alternatives sounds more natural?
1.1 - その本は読めない。
1.2 - その本が読めない。
2.1 - ゴルフは上手じゃない。
2.2 - ゴルフが上手じゃない
3.1 - この映画は見たくない。
3.2 - この映画が見たくない。
3.3 - この映画を見たくない。
4.1 - 日本語は分からない。
4.2 - 日本語が分からない。
...
1
vote
2
answers
134
views
For phrases modifying nouns, is the subject considered part of the modifier or separate?
Oftentimes I see phrases such as this in songs and such:
僕は迷い込んだ夢の中
I always interpreted these as the first part all modifying the noun, i.e. "Inside the dream I was lost in," here. However, when I ...
0
votes
1
answer
104
views
たform+こと が/は(particle) ありますか?
Continuation from my other question:
if we were asking as a question, 'みたことがありますか。' Can we use the question はparticle interchangeably? Or which to use under which circumstances? Thanks!
0
votes
4
answers
260
views
は or が in the example "朝起きるとき、鳥 ( ) いつも歌います"?
Following up on my earlier question, I want to check if I've got a feel for this subordinate clause particle use correct. This is probably a duplicate, but it really helps me understand things better ...
3
votes
1
answer
2k
views
「は」vs 「が」 in subordinate clauses
I'm confused about「は」vs「が」 in subordinate clauses. Here are a few examples from (very basic) grammar books:
僕が 電話したとき、ナツミは もういなかった。When I called, Natsumi had already left.
弟が 日本に来たら、私は 日光に連れて行きたい。...
6
votes
3
answers
241
views
は significance in ゲームは上手いですね
I'm confused by the reaction to は in this exchange
A:「ゲームは上手いですね!」
B:「ゲーム「は」.....」
source context:
http://neetsha.jp/inside/up/1/2/12840/24.jpg
2
votes
1
answer
604
views
What does それが mean here?
I am reading the visual novel known as Kanon.
I'll include some context, but the final sentence is where my question is:
片隅には、白い羽の生えたリュックがあった。
(In a corner, the rucksack with white wings sprouting ...
1
vote
1
answer
204
views
Should I use は or が here?
先日、同級生は飼い犬を学校に連れてきました。
彼の飼い犬はゴールデン・レトリバーで、すごく可愛かったです。
学生達に撫でられたり、甘えられたりすることがとても好きだったので、授業中に教室を走り回っていて、皆を迎えに行きました。
甘えん坊ですね~!
I posted that entry on Lang-8 and someone corrected my use ...
1
vote
2
answers
346
views
A question about the particle used with potential form
As I know, when the potential form of a verb is being used, direct object particle "を" should not be used. Instead, が or は should be used. So when should we use which? For example,
富士山が 登れた
...
1
vote
2
answers
267
views
は vs. が when topic is implied
I was surprised by a conversation listed in my textbook. The conversation goes like this:
A: ハンバーガーを[食]{た}べますか。
B: いいえ、ハンバーガーは[嫌]{きら}いです
As for the meaning, I believe I understand it. ("Do you eat ...
1
vote
1
answer
603
views
Why が is said to be a subject marker?
In many beginner material, が is said to be a subject marker. (For example this one) However, my teacher who learnt Japanese in Japan said he has never heard such a saying.
And in his teaching, it is ...
4
votes
3
answers
143
views
Yet another question on 「は」 and 「が」
Below are two excerpts from the short novel 「タクシーに乗った吸血鬼」 by Murakami Haruki:
その一
「でもね、本当に吸血鬼がいたらどうします?」
「参っちゃうだろうね」
「それだけですか?」
「いけないかな?」
「いけないですよ。信念というのはもっと崇高なもんです。山があると思えば山がある、山がないと思えば山はない」
その二
「...
5
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Why wa in Karaoke wa suki desu ka?
I recently came across an example in a text book
カラオケは好きですか。
and was not sure why wa was used here instead of ga?
1
vote
1
answer
226
views
A complex structure: Xが~するYについて、~する者は
So I'm reading the One Punch Man manga to learn some vocabulary. I have the Portuguese translation and I compare it with my translation.
But I read something that I think is wrong in the Portuguese ...
4
votes
2
answers
184
views
こども "が" ねて いますから
こどもが ねて いますから、しずかに して ください。
こどもは ねて いますから、しずかに して ください。
I know that the 2nd one is incorrect. But why? To my understanding, が is used to emphasize the subject we can hear or see, while は is rather ...
0
votes
1
answer
518
views
が usage in 昨日が忙しかったです
When translating "I was busy yesterday," why is this incorrect?
昨日が忙しかったです
Isn't it the same as
私は昨日が忙しかったです
0
votes
1
answer
64
views
can が be used like this?
this is a small conversation
-どこで食べる
-イタリアレストランではどう
my grammer book says that using どう usually opens up a new topic for example about the location
but if i didn't use どう and instead was stating the ...
3
votes
2
answers
866
views
Why がない but はありません?
I was under the impression that は should be always used in negative sentences. Is がない an exception to this rule? Does が add something special to the negation?
仕事はありません。
仕事がない。
Do the above sentences ...
6
votes
1
answer
576
views
「それがなにか」 v.s. 「それはなにか」
According to Weblio, 「それがなにか(問題)」 is similar to "So what", e.g.
I'm wondering why the topic marker 「は」, as in 「それはなに」, is not used here.
After all, "As to that, is there any thing wrong" sounds ...
4
votes
1
answer
417
views
More complex sentences - When to use は? When to use が?
I know the basics about the difference in the usage between は and が.
Nevertheless, when it comes to more complex sentences, I encounter difficulties that I want to explain on base of some examples. ...
6
votes
1
answer
441
views
は vs が in 私は言うように書いてください。
I have the following sentence in my anki app:
Please write it down as I tell you.
私は言うように書いてください。
However my instincts tell me this should not be は but が. Am I correct?
2
votes
2
answers
890
views
は、が、を、に and information structure of Japanese Question
I read 日本語の助詞(情報構造) and from what I understand it says:
What comes before は is old information and after it it's new information. (This makes sense to me).
What comes before が is new information (...
1
vote
2
answers
165
views
Difference between two sentences
魚が好きな人。
人は魚が好きだ。
What is the difference between these two sentences?
-1
votes
1
answer
145
views
Why does は change the entire sentence?
魚は好きな人。
Fishes like people
魚が好きな人。
Person that likes fish
Although I know the definition of both sentences it is very confusing to me, why が works and は doesn't.
0
votes
2
answers
190
views
How do the は and が function here?
受験生は夏休みが勝負なのよ?
So since there is no verb here, how do the は and が function here?
1
vote
2
answers
424
views
The song 「雪が降る」 by アダモ goes --> ♪♪ 雪は降る あなたは来ない ... ♪♪
ADAMO, [Tombe la neige]
The song 「雪が降る」 by アダモ goes --> ♪♪ 雪は降る あなたは来ない ... ♪♪
Is there a good explanation for the difference between the title and how the song begins? -- 雪が vs. 雪は ...
...