Particles (1)
は
The は particle indicates the topic of a sentence. Usually translated by “as for”.
Example
私はフランス人です。 I am French (As for me, I am French).
When a sentence is negative, は is usually used instead of が and を.
Example
肉は食べません。 I don’t eat meat.
When used with a noun that is a number or an amount, it takes the meaning of “at least” or “around”. Can be mixed with くらい・ぐらい.
Example
毎週２回は映画館に行きます。 I go to the cinema at least twice a week.
が
The が particle indicates the subject of a sentence.
Example
電車が好きです。 I like trains.
It is also used for making a contrast.
Example
電車は好きですが、バスは好きじゃない。 I like trains, but I don’t like buses.
In a noun modifying clause, は becomes が.
Example
彼はラメんを作った。 He made ramen.
彼が作ったラメんはおいしいです。 The ramen he made is delicious.
Difference between は and が
Usually, they can be used in the same sentence, but have a nuanced meaning based on the context.
Examples
私はフランス人です。 私がフランス人です。 I am French.
Both sentences mean the same thing. But:
- In the first sentence with は, what is highlighted is that the speaker is French.
- In the second sentence with が, what is highlighted is that the French person is the speaker. The first sentence would most likely be the answer to “where are you from?”, while the second sentence would be the answer to “who is French?“. が highlights the information where the focus is wanted.
を
This particle is used for the target of the action of a verb.
Examples
ケーキを作る。 I prepare a cake.
に
This particle has multiple meanings.
- A place of existence.
Example
会社は東京にあります。 The company is in Tokyo.
- A point in time.
Example
毎日１２時に寝ます。 I sleep at 12:00 everyday.
- A direction towards whom an action is directed. For example: meeting a person, phoning to someone, riding a transport, writing on something, sitting on something, etc.
Example
日本に住んでいます。 I live in Japan.
に・へ
に and へ are used to indicate a direction of movement with verbs like 行く, くる, and 帰る.
Example
日本へ行きます。 日本に行きます。 I’m going to Japan.
で
This particle can indicate several things.
- A place where the action is done.
Example
図書館で本を読みました。 I read a book in the library.
- The use of something
Example
えんぴつで書いてください。 Please write with a pencil.
- The use of ingredients or materials
Example
タコでたこ焼きを作る。 I prepare takoyaki with octopus.
- Numbers or volume for multiple objects.
Example
本を５冊で買った。 I bought 5 books.
- A noun that is the cause of something.
Example
かぜで休みました。 I took the day off because of a cold.
- A mode of transportation.
Example
休暇に電車で行った。 I went on holiday by train.
の
This particle indicates possession.
Example
私のボール。 My ball.
も
This particle means “also”.
Example
日本料理も韓国料理も食べます。 I eat Japanese and Korean food.
The particles は, が and を change to も.
Example
私は中国語も話せます。 I can also speak Chinese.
In other cases, it can be combined with other particles: に, で, へ, と, から.
Example
大阪にも行きたい。 I also want to go to Osaka.
Another meaning of this particle can be found when combined with words like 何, 誰, or どこ (what, who, where). It means nothing, nobody and nowhere. It indicates the absence.
Example
A: 昨日どこかへ行った？ B: いいえ、どこへも行かなかった。 A: Did you go somewhere yesterday? B: No, I didn’t go anywhere.
Used with a number or a time, it means “as many as” or “nearly”.
Example
2時間も待っていました。 I have waited for nearly 2 hours.