N5Lesson 18 of 438 min
は and が: the hard one, early
Two particles that both look like "the subject". The difference is topic versus new information.
This one has no clean English equivalent, and it is the particle pair learners fight with longest. I would rather introduce it early with a simple rule than let you avoid it for months.
The working rule
- は sets the topic ("as for X…"), the thing you are already talking about.
- が points at the subject as new or specific information, the answer to a question.
- 私は田中です わたしはたなかですवाताशि वा तानाका देसAs for me, I am Tanaka: introducing yourself
- 誰が来ましたか だれがきましたかदारे गा किमाशिता काWho came? (が, because the answer is new information)
- 田中さんが来ました たなかさんがきましたतानाका सान गा किमाशिताTanaka came: が answers the question
Where each one is fixed
| Situation | Particle | Example |
|---|---|---|
| After a question word (誰, 何, どれ) | が always | 何がありますか |
| Answering that question | が | 本があります |
| Stating a general fact about a topic | は | 象は鼻が長い |
| Contrasting two things | は | コーヒーは好きです |
| With 好き, 上手, ある, いる | が | 日本語が好きです |