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Introduction To Particles

The document introduces Japanese particles, which provide grammatical information about the words they follow. It discusses some common particles like wa (topic particle), ga (subject particle), o (direct object particle), ni (movement) and de (location). It also compares the usage of wa and ga, noting that wa overrides ga so the subject can be both the topic and subject. Examples are provided to illustrate the meaning and usage of each particle.

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Kazunari Saidachijung
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26 views

Introduction To Particles

The document introduces Japanese particles, which provide grammatical information about the words they follow. It discusses some common particles like wa (topic particle), ga (subject particle), o (direct object particle), ni (movement) and de (location). It also compares the usage of wa and ga, noting that wa overrides ga so the subject can be both the topic and subject. Examples are provided to illustrate the meaning and usage of each particle.

Uploaded by

Kazunari Saidachijung
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Introduction to Particles

Particles may seem a little foreign to you at first, but for the most part, they aren't too difficult
to grasp.

These particles are placed after a word (or phrase) and show its relationship (grammatical
function) to the rest of the sentence.

In other words, the particle itself isn't really translatable, but it tells you a lot about the
function of the word it follows.

The best way to learn to use them is to memorize useful examples and try them out for size!

は wa - overall topic particle - shows the main topic of the conversation. It may be helpful
to think of it as "As for..."

[NOTE: it is a hiragana ha but pronounced as "wa"]

あなた　 は 　やさしい。
anata wa yasashii .
You are nice.
[Makes "you" the main topic: "As for YOU, you are nice."]

が ga - the subject particle - sometimes the difference between wa and ga is hard to tell.
Sometimes they can be used interchangeably with only a slight change in meaning. See next
entry for more on this.

ねこ　 が 　へん。
neko ga hen.
The cat is strange.
[Makes the "cat" the subject]

Comparing は and が (by Paul_b)

The topic particle は can easily be confused with the subject particle が. That is because は
overrides が, in other words, in a sentence something can very easily be both the topic and
the subject of that sentence. In such cases the が "disappears" and it looks like the は is
acting as a subject marker.

Take this simple sentence.

わたしはクレイです。
watashi wa kurei desu.
I am Clay.
["I" (that is the speaker, Clay) is the topic and now this is known, it won't be repeated unless
the topic changes]

What is the subject of the sentence? That's right - "I" watashi is. But because "I" is also the
topic only the topic marker は is used. Now we'll let Clay continue and say another
sentence ...

ねこがすきです。
neko ga suki desu.
(I) like cats.
["cats" is the subject here. "I" is still the topic. He could have said "watashi wa neko ga suki
desu." but that is unnecessary because he has already said "watashi wa" establishing the topic
in the previous sentence.]

if both are in a sentence, the wa is first.

を o - The Direct Object particle


本　 を 　よみました。
hon o yomimashita.
(I) read a book.
[NOTE: it makes "book" the object. If we were to say "I" it would be watashi wa at the
beginning.]

に ni - usually shows movement (to)

日本　 に 　いきましょう！
nihon ni ikimashou!
Let's go to Japan!
[There is movement going to Japan ]

or shows time (at)

６時　 に 　いきましょう！
roku ji ni ikimashou!
Let's go at 6.

で de - Shows location (at, in)

日本　 で 　遊びましょう！
nihon de asobimashou!
Let's play (have fun) in Japan!
[Notice there is no movement]

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