NihonGo
Unit 35Phase J · Particles

The “who / what” particle

だれが?job ① new info

Points out the answer to “who? / what?”.

フジさんが きました

すき・わかるjob ② the target

すき・じょうず・わかる take が, not を.

ねこが すきです

AはBがjob ③ the part

Topic with は, then the part with が + adjective.

ぞうは はなが ながいです

だれが きましたか。

フジさんが きました。

Step 1

しんじょうほうの が

が = new info (who? / what?)

Use when you point something out — especially the answer to a question word like だれ (who) or なに (what). 🔊 Tap any example to hear it.

だれ/なにwho / what
+
points it out
+
did / exists

が points to NEW information — especially the answer to “who?” or “what?”. The question words だれ/なに take が, and so does the answer you give back.

Step 2

たいしょうの が

が = the target of すき・わかる・じょうず

Here's the one to remember: with すき・きらい・じょうず・へた・わかる・できる, the thing they point at takes , not を. 🔊 Tap an example to hear it.

ものthe thing
+
the target
+
すき/わかる…like / understand

With すき/きらい (like/dislike), じょうず/へた (good/bad at), and わかる/できる (understand/can), the thing those words point at takes が — not を.

In real conversation it sounds like this — listen for the :

なに すきですか。

What do you like?

わたしは おちゃ すきです。

I like tea. (the target of すき → が)

にほんご わかりますか。

Do you understand Japanese? (が = the thing understood)

はい、わかります。

Yes, I do.

Step 3

A は B が 〜

describing a part (“A’s B is…”)

To describe a part of something, set the topic with , then mark the part with and add an adjective: ぞうは はなが ながいです. 🔊 Tap to hear it.

Aはthe topic
+
Bがthe part
+
adjective

To describe a PART or feature of something: name the topic with Aは, then the part with Bが + an adjective. “As for A, its B is …”.

Step 4

れんしゅう

Say it in Japanese

Read the English, say the Japanese out loud yourself, then flip the card to check. Watch your !

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