Kimuchi Nihongo

Grammar

N5AI-drafted

〜が(主語)

subject marker (new or emphasised information)

Formation

N + が + V/い形容詞/な形容詞

Usage

が marks the subject of a sentence, especially when the subject is new information, is being pointed out, or answers the question "who/what?". It is also used with existence verbs (ある・いる), with natural phenomena, and inside relative clauses. Compare with は, which marks a known topic: 「私は学生です」(as for me) vs 「私がします」(it is I who will do it). Beginners often overuse は; use が when you introduce something for the first time or when the word before it is the answer to a question.

Examples

  • 雨が降っています。

    あめがふっています。

    It is raining.

  • あそこに猫がいます。

    あそこにねこがいます。

    There is a cat over there.

  • 「だれが来ましたか。」「田中さんが来ました。」

    「だれがきましたか。」「たなかさんがきました。」

    "Who came?" "Mr. Tanaka came."

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