Changes

Using the sentence, "Zou '''wa''' hana '''ga''' nagai desu." (which translates directly as "(As for) the elephant (its) trunk (is) long (it is)", or simply as "The elephant's trunk is long), "wa" highlights the topic of the sentence (Elephant), from the commentary on the topic (its trunk is long), whilst "ga" in this case links ''hana'' (trunk) to the adjective which follows, ''nagain'' (long).

Using the sentence, "Zou '''wa''' hana '''ga''' nagai desu." (which translates directly as "(As for) the elephant (its) trunk (is) long (it is)", or simply as "The elephant's trunk is long), "wa" highlights the topic of the sentence (Elephant), from the commentary on the topic (its trunk is long), whilst "ga" in this case links ''hana'' (trunk) to the adjective which follows, ''nagain'' (long).

"Wa" can also be used more than once in a sentence, to highlight the topic of each clause within the sentence. For example, "<font color=red>Eigo</font> '''wa''' <font color=blue>muzukashii desu ga</font>, <font color=red>nihongo</font> '''wa''' <font color=blue>muzukashiku nai desu</font>." or "(As for) English (it) is difficult, but (as for) Japanese (it) is not difficult (it is)". In this case, the topics of the two clauses are "English" and "Japanese" respectively and the difference between the topic and the description of the topic, is indicated using <font color=red>red</font> and <font color=blue>blue</font> text.

"Wa" can also be used more than once in a sentence, to highlight the topic of each clause within the sentence. For example, "<font color=red>Eigo</font> '''wa''' <font color=blue>muzukashii desu '''ga'''</font>, <font color=red>nihongo</font> '''wa''' <font color=blue>muzukashiku nai desu</font>." or "(As for) English (it) is difficult, but (as for) Japanese (it) is not difficult (it is)". In this case, the topics of the two clauses are "English" and "Japanese" respectively and the difference between the topic and the description of the topic, is indicated using <font color=red>red</font> and <font color=blue>blue</font> text.

Even if the adjective or verb following the topic is modified, "ga" is still used, as the relationship between the topic and the adjective is still one to one. Thus the sentences "<font color=red>Nigatsu ni yuki</font> '''ga''' <font color=blue>furimasu</font> (In February snow falls) and <font color=red>Nigatsu ni yuki</font> '''ga''' <font color=blue>yoku furimasu</font> (In February, snow often falls), the link is between "snow" and "falls.”

Even if the adjective or verb following the topic is modified, "ga" is still used, as the relationship between the topic and the adjective is still one to one. Thus the sentences "<font color=red>Nigatsu ni yuki</font> '''ga''' <font color=blue>furimasu</font> (In February snow falls) and <font color=red>Nigatsu ni yuki</font> '''ga''' <font color=blue>yoku furimasu</font> (In February, snow often falls), the link is between "snow" and "falls.”

To use an example, asking a group of children, "Who went to school?" would receive the reply, "Tom went to school.” Asking the question, "Which one of you went to school?" would probably receive the same response, but with higher pitched voices and fingers pointing to the unfortunate Tom, and if written, probably ending in an exclamation point, rather than a full stop.

To use an example, asking a group of children, "Who went to school?" would receive the reply, "Tom went to school.” Asking the question, "Which one of you went to school?" would probably receive the same response, but with higher pitched voices and fingers pointing to the unfortunate Tom, and if written, probably ending in an exclamation point, rather than a full stop.

In Japanese, however, this is conveyed by changing the "wa" to a "ga.” Thus, "Who went to school?" would be answered by "Tomu '''wa''' gakkou ni ikimash<i></i>ita." (Tom went to school.) and "Which one of you went to school?" would be answered with, "Tomu '''ga''' gakkou ni ikimash<i></i>ita." (Tom is the one who went to school).

In Japanese, however, this is conveyed by changing the "wa" to a "ga.” Thus, "Who went to school?" would be answered by "Tomu '''wa''' gakkou '''ni''' ikimash<i></i>ita." (Tom went to school.) and "Which one of you went to school?" would be answered with, "Tomu '''ga''' gakkou '''ni''' ikimash<i></i>ita." (Tom is the one who went to school).

In addition, the subject of subordinate clauses in a sentence normally uses "ga,” to indicate that the subordinate and main clauses have different subjects. Thus, in "Watashi '''wa''' Mika '''ga''' kekkon shi<i></i>ta koto o shiranakatta." (I did not know Mika was married), Mika is the subordinate subject.

In addition, the subject of subordinate clauses in a sentence normally uses "ga,” to indicate that the subordinate and main clauses have different subjects. Thus, in "Watashi '''wa''' Mika '''ga''' kekkon shi<i></i>ta koto '''o''' shiranakatta." (I did not know Mika was married), Mika is the subordinate subject.

Finally, in conversation, where a negative answer is required to a question, "ga" reverts to "wa.” Thus "Sakana '''ga''' suki desu ka?" (Do you like fish?) is answered "Iie, sakana '''wa''' suki janai desu." (No, I do not like fish.)  

Finally, in conversation, where a negative answer is required to a question, "ga" reverts to "wa.” Thus "Sakana '''ga''' suki desu ka?" (Do you like fish?) is answered "Iie, sakana '''wa''' suki janai desu." (No, I do not like fish.)

==O (を)==

==O (を)==