Particles

Question 1

NounA　は　NounB　です。

What is the use of the は particle?

Answer 1

The は particle is used as a topic marker. When placed after a noun it lets the listener know what the following information is about.

<b>New Vocab</b>
私【わたし】 I, Me (Informal)
学生【がくせい】Student
学【がく】 Study
生【せい】Life, Living

私は学生です。
I am a student.

私は is refering to me.
学生 is a noun to describe the relation to me.
です is generally translated as ‘is’. It is also a verb.

NOTE: Verbs are always placed at the end of the sentence.

Question 2

NounA　は　NounB　が　Noun/Adj

What us the use of the が particle?

Answer 2

The が particle is used as a subject marker. For new learners it is confusing when to use は and が.

To simply put it, は lets the listener know what the topic you are talking about is. が adds emphasis to the subject.

<b>New Vocab</b>
白い【しろい】White
黒い【くろい】Black
この  This (Used with nouns)
ペン  Pen

Ex. このペンは黒いです。
This pen is black.

This example suggests the topic was about something else, は is used to change the topic focus to the pen.

Ex. このペンが白いです。
THIS pen is white.

This example suggests the topic is already knows, が is used to bring attention to this pen colour.

NOTE: There are more uses of the は and が partcle, this is just the most basic usage.

Question 3

NounA　の　NounB

What is the use of the の particle?

Answer 3

When the の particle is used between 2 nouns it acts as a possession identfier.
Think of it as “ ‘s “ (apostrophe s).

<b>New Vocab</b>
猫【ねこ】Cat
青い【あおい】Blue
目【め】Eye

私の猫は目が青いです。

私の猫は My cat (Topic)
目が Eyes (Subject)
青い Blue (Adjective)
です Is (Verb)

This can be translated as: His eyes are blue (my cat) / My cat’s eyes are blue.

Question 4

～です　か

What is the use of the か particle?

Answer 4

The か particle is a question marker that is used at the end of a sentence. Instead of using a question mark (?).

<b>New Vocab</b>
それ That
何【なに】What
何です【なんです】What is

When です comes after 何, it is pronounces なん instead of なに.

それは何ですか。
What is that?