Particle が (Ga)

Question 1

1. Subject Marker

Answer 1

Marks the subject of a sentence, especially when introducing new information.

Structure:
[Subject] + が + [Verb/Adjective]

Example:
猫が好きです。(Neko ga suki desu.) → ‘I like cats.’

Question 2

2. Emphasis & Contrast

Answer 2

Emphasizes the subject in contrast with something else.

Structure:
[Subject] + が + [Contrasting Statement]

Examples:
私がやりま!
Watashi ga yarimasu
I will do it!

彼が来たけど、田中さんは来なかった。
Kare ga kita kedo, Tanaka-san wa konakatta.
He came, but Tanaka didn’t.

And this is if it’s longer.

Question 3

3. Clause Linking (‘But’)

Answer 3

Connects two clauses with a meaning similar to ‘but.’

Structure:
[Clause 1] + が + [Clause 2]

Example:
天気はいいですが、寒いです。
Tenki wa ii desu ga, samui desu.
The weather is nice, but it’s cold.

Note:
だけ and でも is more common in everyday speech.

Question 4

4. Relative Clauses

Answer 4

Marks the subject inside a relative clause modifying a noun.

Structure:
[Subject] + が + [Verb] + [Noun]

Example:
彼が書いた本は面白い.。
Kare ga kaita hon wa omoshiroi.
The book that he wrote is interesting.

Question 5

5. Natural Phenomena & Involuntary Actions

Answer 5

Used to describe natural events, emotions, or involuntary actions.

Structure: [Subject] + が + [Verb/Adjective]

Examples:
雨が降っています。
Ame ga futte imasu.
It is raining.

悲しくて涙が出た。
Kanashikute namida ga deta.
I was sad, and tears came out.

Question 6

6. Preferences & Abilities

Answer 6

Used with expressions of liking, disliking, ability, and disability.

Structure:
[Thing] + が + [好き/嫌い/できる]

Examples:
寿司が好きです。
Sushi ga suki desu.
I like sushi.

日本語が話せます。
Nihongo ga hanasemasu.
I can speak Japanese.

Question 7

7. Answering Interrogatives

Answer 7

Used when answering a question containing 誰 (who), 何 (what), どれ (which), etc.

Structure:
[Question Word] + が + [Answer]

Examples:
誰が来ますか？
Dare ga kimasu ka?
Who is coming?

田中さんが来ます。
Tanaka-san ga kimasu.
Tanaka is coming.

Question 8

8. Possession & Existence

Answer 8

Used with ある (for inanimate things) and いる (for animate things) to indicate existence or possession.

Structure:
[Place] + に + [Object] + がある／がいる

Examples:
机の上に本があります。
Tsukue no ue ni hon ga arimasu.
There is a book on the desk.

庭に猫がいます。
Niwa ni neko ga imasu.
There is a cat in the garden.

Question 9

9. Fixed Expressions

Answer 9

が is used in some set expressions that cannot use other particles.

Examples:
いい匂いがする。
Ii nioi ga suru.
It smells nice.

山が見える。
Yama ga mieru.
I can see a mountain.

音楽が聞こえる。
Ongaku ga kikoeru.
I can hear music.