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JLPT N5 - Introduction to particles : は、も、が

Christophe
Posted by Christophe on Jun 26, 2022 11:29:12 AM
 

What are the Japanese particles?

A particle follows the word it targets to indicate its function in the sentence (e.g. theme, subject, direct object, place, etc.). In the Japanese language, particles have an important role.
La particule de thème 「は」

The theme particle 「は」wa

The particle は indicates that the noun before it is the theme. The theme refers to what is being talked about in the sentence, i.e., about what new information is going to be provided.

The theme is not necessarily the grammatical subject of the sentence. The subject and the theme should not be confused.

The particle は can be roughly translated as "about" or "concerning".

Although we write "は" (normally pronounced "ha"), we pronounce "wa".
(例)
ニコラフランス じんだ。Nicolas is French (Regarding Nicolas, he is French).

The structure 「noun + は」 also allows us to construct an interrogative sentence.
(例)
A:お 名前なまえ?What's your name? (Regarding your name?)
B:山田やまだです。My name is Yamada (It's Yamada).

In Japanese, we omit what is obvious in the context. For example, in the second sentence below, the question is about Yamada's "little job" when "little job" is not mentioned.

(例)
Suzuki:今日きょうアルバイトだ。山田やまださん
Today I'm going to my little job (Today is little job.) Are you going to your little job, Yamada? (About you, Yamada?)

Yamada:わたし明日あした。 I'm going to my little job tomorrow (Concerning me, it's tomorrow).
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わたし学生がくせいだ。
I am a student. (As for me, I am a student.)
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今日きょうあめじゃない。
Today it's not raining. (Regarding today, it's not raining.)
わたしはラーメン。
As far as I'm concerned, I'll take a ramen.
趣味しゅみは?
What are your hobbies? (Regarding your hobbies?)
 
 
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La particule inclusive de thème 「も」

The theme inclusive particle 「も」mo

This particle is similar to は, but it adds the meaning of "also" in the affirmative sentence or "neither" in the negative sentence.

When there is an opposition of ideas, は should be used, not も.

(例)
A:ニコラ 先生せんせい
B:うん。あと、メラニー 先生せんせい

A:ニコラ 先生せんせい
B:ううん、でもメラニー 先生せんせい

A:ニコラ 先生せんせい
B:ううん、あとメラニー 先生せんせいじゃない。
 
La particule d’identification 「が」

The identification particle 「が」ga

Some sentences have no theme but use the subject identification particle が.

Sentences without theme are used as follows:

1) When describing an event as it is perceived through one of the five senses.
(例)
て、あそこにねこいる。Look, there's a cat over there.
音楽おんがく こえる。I hear music.

2) When new information is given or asked for.
(例)
今日きょう、パーティーある。Today there is a party.

In sentences beginning with interrogative words, we put が after the interrogative word. This is because we are asking for new information. When we answer, we also use the particle が.

A:だれ 先生せんせい?Who is the teacher? (Who is the one who is a teacher?)
B:かれ 先生せんせい。He is the one (He is the one who is a teacher).

Note well the difference subtitle with the particle は which does not identify the subject:

A:先生せんせい だれ?Who is the teacher? (As for the teacher, who is he?)
B:先生せんせい かれ。It's him (Concerning the teacher, who is he).

だれ友達ともだち
Who is your friend? (Who is the one who is your friend?)
かれ友達ともだち
He is the one who is my friend (He is the one who is my friend).
 
 
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Exercices

Exercices

Make a sentence using the theme particle は .
(例)先生せんせい。(theme: かれ )→ かれ先生せんせい

Answer →
彼女かのじょだれ
Translation →
Who is she?
Answer →
試験しけんはいつ?
Translation →
When is the exam?
Answer →
あれはなに
Translation →
What is it?
Answer →
日本にほんはどう?
Translation →
How is Japan?
Answer →
山田やまださんは先生せんせいだ。
Translation →
M.(Mrs.) Yamada is a teacher.
Answer →
ニコラは友達ともだちだ。
Translation →
Nicolas is my friend.
Answer →
今日きょうれだ。
Translation →
It is sunny today.
Answer →
ここはトイレ?
Translation →
Are toilets here?
Answer →
リンダはアメリカじんだ。
Translation →
Linda is american.
Answer →
明日あしたやすみ?
Translation →
Tomorrow is a day off?

Complete with は or も in 〇."
Answer →
今日きょうれだ。昨日きのう(も)れだった。
Translation →
Today it is sunny. Yesterday it was also sunny.
Answer →
メラニーはフランスじんだ。でも、わたし(は)フランスじんじゃない。
Translation →
Melanie is French. But I am not French.
Answer →
それは手帳てちょう。これ(も)そうだ。
Translation →
This one is an agenda. This one is also (an agenda).
Answer →
アルバイトは明日あしただ。今日きょう(は)アルバイトじゃなかった。
Translation →
My little job is tomorrow, not today.
Answer →
ちち医者いしゃ。あとあに(も)医者いしゃ
Translation →
My father is a doctor. And my older brother is also a doctor.

Complete with は, もor が in 〇.
Answer →
A: トイレ は どこ?
B: そこ が トイレ。
Translation →
A : Where are the toilets?
B : The toilets are there.
Answer →
A: これ は なに
B: これはゲーム。
A: それ も ゲーム?
B: ううん、それ は ゲームじゃない。
Translation →
A : What is it?
B : These are games.
A : Are these games too?
B : No, these are not games.
Answer →
A: 彼女かのじょだれ
B: 彼女かのじょ山田やまださん。 先生せんせいだよ。
Translation →
A : Who is she?
B : It's Mrs. Yamada. She is a teacher.
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