How to use は and が
(Who are we talking about?)
〇〇は、/ 〇〇が、
New Vocabulary
よる（夜）【YORU】 night
おきる（起きる）【OKIRU】 wake up
【Review: Word Order】
In the last lesson,
we learned word order.
Japanese word order is:
Subject → Object → Verb
Let’s place the words.
わたし りんご たべる
I eat an apple.
Now, we will learn particles
that show who the sentence is about.
【Basic Explanation: は and が】
We use は
when we talk about the topic
(what we are talking about).
We use が
We use が when we answer who/what questions,
or when we want to highlight the subject.
The particle は
is pronounced WA.
【Comparison Example: は vs が】
わたし【は】 りんご たべる
As for me,
I eat an apple.
わたし【が】 りんご たべる
I eat an apple.
(It is me who eats.)
(Explanation)
Even with the same sentence,
the focus changes
depending on は or が.
【Extra Example with は】
わたし【は】 よる おきる
When we use は,
it shows whose life or situation
we are talking about.
In this sentence,
the speaker is talking about
their own daily life or habit.
It means:
“This is about me and my life.”
【Extra Example with が】
English (Question)
Who runs?
Japanese (Answer)
わたし【が】 はしる
I run.
(Important Note)
When there is no object,
Japanese sentences can be:
Subject → Verb
【Summary】
In this lesson, you learned the basic difference between は and が.
• は sets the topic of the sentence.
• が points to what is important or newly identified.
To complete sentences like this:
わたし【は】 りんご【？】 たべる
you will learn を / に / で
in the next lesson.
Later, you will also see が with ある / いる (existence).
↑【 lesson 006】