Particles

Question 1

明日は土曜日です。

Ashita wa do-yōbi desu.

明日 (あした), 土曜日 (どようび)

Answer 1

(lit.) As for tomorrow, Saturday is.

Saturday is tomorrow.

Used to mark the topic of a sentence.

Question 2

犬は好きです。
でも、猫は嫌いです。

Inu wa suki desu. Demo, neko wa kirai desu.

犬 (いぬ), 好き (すき), 猫 (ねこ), 嫌い (きらい)

Answer 2

(lit.) As for dogs, I like, but as for cats, I dislike.

I like dogs, but I don’t like cats.

Puts emphasis on that object, often in comparison to other objects.

Question 3

ペットがいます。

Petto ga imasu.

Answer 3

(lit.) There is a pet.

I have a pet.

Use “います” (imasu) when dealing with the existance of animate subjects.

Question 4

宿題があります。

Shukudai ga arimasu.

宿題 (しゅくだい)

Answer 4

(lit.) There is homework.

I have homework.

Use “あります” (arimasu) when dealing with the existance of inanimate subjects.

Question 5

兄弟がいません。

Kyōdai ga imasen.

兄弟 (きょうだい)

Answer 5

(lit.) There aren’t (any) siblings.

I don’t have any siblings

Use “いません” (imasen) when dealing with the inexistance of inanimate subjects.

Question 6

私はピンクの車が欲しいです。

Watashi wa pinku no kuruma ga hosii desu.

私 (わたし), 車 (くるま), 欲しい (ほしい)

Answer 6

I want a pink car.

“が欲しいです。” (ga hoshii desu) means “I want”.

Question 7

私は水が飲みたいです。

Watashi wa mizu ga nomitai desu.

私 (わたし), 飲み (のみ)

Answer 7

I want to drink water.

“が…たいです” (ga …tai desu) means “I want to …”.