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Particles (Japanese) (view source)
Revision as of 11:27, December 12, 2008
, 11:27, December 12, 2008→Wa (は) and Ga (が): one more
In simple terms, "wa" (pronounced "wah") marks the topic of a sentence, while "ga" (pronounced "gah", with the "ga" as in "<u>ga</u>te) marks the subject. Whatever comes before "wa" is the topic of the sentence, which will be described by what follows "wa.” This is similar to splitting an English sentence into its [[subject]] and predicate, although the topic is not always the subject in the English sense. "Ga,” whilst doing much the same, links the word or phrase that precedes it to the adjective or verb that immediately follows it.
In simple terms, "wa" (pronounced "wah") marks the topic of a sentence, while "ga" (pronounced "gah", with the "ga" as in "<u>ga</u>te) marks the subject. Whatever comes before "wa" is the topic of the sentence, which will be described by what follows "wa.” This is similar to splitting an English sentence into its [[subject]] and predicate, although the topic is not always the subject in the English sense. "Ga,” whilst doing much the same, links the word or phrase that precedes it to the adjective or verb that immediately follows it.
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 the subject, ''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.”
Another important difference between "wa" and "ga" lies in the topic of the sentence itself. An unknown pronoun (who) can ''never'' take the "wa" particle - you cannot say, for example, "Dare '''wa''' hon '''o''' yomimasu '''ka'''," for "Who will read a book?" Using "wa" in this case, almost translates as "As for who will be reading the book?" and makes no sense. Here you would say "Dare '''ga''' hon '''o''' yomimasu '''ka'''." Simply put, "who" can be the subject of a sentence, but not the topic of a sentence, and hence is marked with "ga" and not "wa".
"Ga" is also used for emphasis, where there is a need to distinguish a person or thing from all the others. It is a difficult concept to explain, as in English, this difference is often conveyed in the tone of voice being used.
"Ga" is also used for emphasis, where there is a need to distinguish a person or thing from all the others. It is a difficult concept to explain, as in English, this difference is often conveyed in the tone of voice being used.