Comments on: The difference between 「は」 and 「が」 http://nihongo.3yen.com/2005-02-05/the-difference-between-and/ Nihongo.3Yen.com - Japanese Language Fri, 18 Dec 2009 12:09:56 +0100 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Jess http://nihongo.3yen.com/2005-02-05/the-difference-between-and/comment-page-1/#comment-115757 Jess Wed, 20 May 2009 23:25:22 +0000 http://nihongo.3yen.com/2005-02-05/the-difference-between-and/#comment-115757 OH. MY. GOSH. I actually think I get it now. I am so glad I found your blog! Thank you for your informative and extremely entertaining posts! OH. MY. GOSH. I actually think I get it now. I am so glad I found your blog!

Thank you for your informative and extremely entertaining posts!

]]> By: ティム　ハーン http://nihongo.3yen.com/2005-02-05/the-difference-between-and/comment-page-1/#comment-114027 ティム　ハーン Sun, 03 May 2009 16:32:26 +0000 http://nihongo.3yen.com/2005-02-05/the-difference-between-and/#comment-114027 This was such a great explanation and like many of the people above I have also only heard statements such as it puts emphasis on whats before it, you just have to get used to it and so fourth. However you gave a really clear and concise explanation. My only question is that it seems が is used for more vague questions such as "だれが..." , in that case is it also used with other vague question words such as when "どこ、いつ、...?" This was such a great explanation and like many of the people above I have also only heard statements such as it puts emphasis on whats before it, you just have to get used to it and so fourth. However you gave a really clear and concise explanation. My only question is that it seems が is used for more vague questions such as “だれが…” , in that case is it also used with other vague question words such as when “どこ、いつ、…?”

]]> By: Tae Kim http://nihongo.3yen.com/2005-02-05/the-difference-between-and/comment-page-1/#comment-61820 Tae Kim Fri, 07 Dec 2007 21:03:33 +0000 http://nihongo.3yen.com/2005-02-05/the-difference-between-and/#comment-61820 Yes, は sets the context. Think about a ball that represents your current topic. Every time you use は, you move the ball to another topic. Until you want to move the ball to another topic, you can continue talking about the current topic without having to directly mention it anywhere in the sentence. Yes, は sets the context. Think about a ball that represents your current topic. Every time you use は, you move the ball to another topic. Until you want to move the ball to another topic, you can continue talking about the current topic without having to directly mention it anywhere in the sentence.

]]> By: Dave http://nihongo.3yen.com/2005-02-05/the-difference-between-and/comment-page-1/#comment-61819 Dave Fri, 07 Dec 2007 20:36:59 +0000 http://nihongo.3yen.com/2005-02-05/the-difference-between-and/#comment-61819 OK, I think I understand this now. It seems to me that things marked with は act sort of outside the sentence. I like to think of a sentence kind of like a function of the following form: verb([subject], [direct object], [other things that interact with the verb in some way]) In Japanese of course, the subject and some other parameters are optional. Then comes は, which doesn't really fit into this "function", but rather sets a context around the function that makes its meaning clearer. Does this analogy seem to correctly convey the idea? OK, I think I understand this now. It seems to me that things marked with は act sort of outside the sentence. I like to think of a sentence kind of like a function of the following form:

verb([subject], [direct object], [other things that interact with the verb in some way])

In Japanese of course, the subject and some other parameters are optional. Then comes は, which doesn’t really fit into this “function”, but rather sets a context around the function that makes its meaning clearer. Does this analogy seem to correctly convey the idea?

]]> By: Aploosh http://nihongo.3yen.com/2005-02-05/the-difference-between-and/comment-page-1/#comment-37238 Aploosh Tue, 26 Jun 2007 09:51:57 +0000 http://nihongo.3yen.com/2005-02-05/the-difference-between-and/#comment-37238 (Phew! I finally finished typing it!) HERE'S MY EXPLANATION: http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/431/picture1wc4.png (Phew! I finally finished typing it!)

HERE’S MY EXPLANATION:

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/431/picture1wc4.png

]]> By: Daan http://nihongo.3yen.com/2005-02-05/the-difference-between-and/comment-page-1/#comment-33494 Daan Mon, 11 Jun 2007 11:06:38 +0000 http://nihongo.3yen.com/2005-02-05/the-difference-between-and/#comment-33494 Thanks! Great site and great advice!! Thanks! Great site and great advice!!

]]> By: Kate http://nihongo.3yen.com/2005-02-05/the-difference-between-and/comment-page-1/#comment-30373 Kate Mon, 28 May 2007 16:53:34 +0000 http://nihongo.3yen.com/2005-02-05/the-difference-between-and/#comment-30373 This was such a great explanation. I'm heading off to Japan in a little more than a week, and this was one issue I was really insecure about. Now I think I got it, after 2 years of study. Thanks so much!! This was such a great explanation. I’m heading off to Japan in a little more than a week, and this was one issue I was really insecure about. Now I think I got it, after 2 years of study. Thanks so much!!

]]> By: QKlilx http://nihongo.3yen.com/2005-02-05/the-difference-between-and/comment-page-1/#comment-13762 QKlilx Wed, 07 Feb 2007 00:29:49 +0000 http://nihongo.3yen.com/2005-02-05/the-difference-between-and/#comment-13762 You know I've been seeking a clear explanation for this question for literally 2 years. I have received answers like "GA adds emphasis" and "GA is the subject particle" and "GA describes what comes before it," and none of them have helped me. It is honestly the hardest aspect of Japanese thus far, and that includes kanji. This entry has caused me to be able to understand why I'm supposed to use GA in certain situations, and maybe now my Japanese grammar will sound less broken and zombie-like. You know I’ve been seeking a clear explanation for this question for literally 2 years. I have received answers like “GA adds emphasis” and “GA is the subject particle” and “GA describes what comes before it,” and none of them have helped me. It is honestly the hardest aspect of Japanese thus far, and that includes kanji. This entry has caused me to be able to understand why I’m supposed to use GA in certain situations, and maybe now my Japanese grammar will sound less broken and zombie-like.

]]> By: Tae Kim http://nihongo.3yen.com/2005-02-05/the-difference-between-and/comment-page-1/#comment-4024 Tae Kim Tue, 03 Oct 2006 08:56:43 +0000 http://nihongo.3yen.com/2005-02-05/the-difference-between-and/#comment-4024 Again, it's the difference between identifying something and talking about something. "sushi ga suki da" is identifying what you like. It answers the question, "What do you like?". "sushi wa suki da" is talking about sushi and that you like it. "tenki GA ii" would also identify what is good. For instance, if somebody asked you, "What is good about today?" you can identify the weather as being the thing that is good. But most of the time, we just want to talk about the weather, therefore it is usually the topic: "tenki wa ii". Also, you can't attach "da" to "ii" because it's an i-adjective. Again, it’s the difference between identifying something and talking about something.

“sushi ga suki da” is identifying what you like. It answers the question, “What do you like?”.

“sushi wa suki da” is talking about sushi and that you like it.

“tenki GA ii” would also identify what is good. For instance, if somebody asked you, “What is good about today?” you can identify the weather as being the thing that is good.

But most of the time, we just want to talk about the weather, therefore it is usually the topic: “tenki wa ii”.

Also, you can’t attach “da” to “ii” because it’s an i-adjective.

]]> By: daniel http://nihongo.3yen.com/2005-02-05/the-difference-between-and/comment-page-1/#comment-4015 daniel Tue, 03 Oct 2006 02:16:02 +0000 http://nihongo.3yen.com/2005-02-05/the-difference-between-and/#comment-4015 i thought you made some great points and you halfway cleared up the issue. i would like to see you explain "ga" from a statement point of view rather than a question. for instance, its very difficult for me, as an english speaker, to grasp why it is sushi GA suki da (noun) ga particle (adjective) but tenki wa ii da (noun) wa particle (adjective) i thought you made some great points and you halfway cleared up the issue. i would like to see you explain “ga” from a statement point of view rather than a question. for instance, its very difficult for me, as an english speaker, to grasp why it is

sushi GA suki da
(noun) ga particle (adjective)

but

tenki wa ii da
(noun) wa particle (adjective)

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