Basic Particles and Japanese Sentence Structure

1. Basic rules in making a sentence:

a)      A Particle comes right after a noun.  When pronouncing it, it blends into the proceeding noun.  

So a Japanese sentence consist of something like “noun+particile  noun+particle  noun+particle noun+particle … verb.”   The red letters are particles in the following sample sentence.


Example:  たなかさんは　ひるの　1じに　とうきょうで　やきそばを　たべます。
Tanaka-san wa     hiro no    ichi-ji ni    Toukyou de    Yakisoba o    tabemasu.
 Tanaka-san eats fried noodle at 1 p.m. in Tokyo.

b)      A verb generally comes at the end of a sentence　as you see “たべます tabemasu  to eat” in the above sample sentence.

c)        A topic (often a subject of a sentence) comes at the beginning of a sentence to indicate what or who a speaker is talking about.  は (pronounced as “Wa”) particle is used to indicate the topic (“たなかさんは in the above sentence) of the sentence.  It can be translated as “speaking of...”, “talking about...”, or “as for...”).  The topic is often omitted if it is known to a listener.

d)      The topic is NOT repeated unless a speaker wants to indicate the topic again to clarify that the speaker is still talking about the topic.

Thus, repeating a topic in every sentence makes your talk sound un-natural.

e)       Words indicating day, date, time often comes at the beginning of a sentence and before a topic. In the above sentence, “ひるの　1じに, hiro no    ichi-ji ni, at 1 p.m.” can be at the beginning of the sentence.  Relative time such as today きょう、tomorrowあした、next week こんしゅう, etc. usually is not followed with a particle. 

f)       Nouns containing a broader sense proceed other nouns when the nouns are similar category such as time and places.

               例）アメリカの　ノースカロライナの　ウイルミントン
　　　             Amerika no Noosu Karoraina no Wiruminton = Wilmington, NC  USA

                   せんしゅうの　しゅうまつの　あさの　６じ            
                   Senshuu no shuumatsu no asa no roku-ji = 6 o'clock in the morning last weekends

 

         g) Particle はreplaces がand を(weak) particles.  Refer #3 below for more.

 

 

 

2.      The particles indicates that relationship between a noun and a verb. 
What does this mean?  Here is a distinct difference between Japanese and English sentence structure as a sample.

 

The weak particles がand を to express “subject” and “direct-object in English sentences.

“Transitive verbs” is a verb that require a direct object.

Particles

What does it indicate?

Sample sentences

が
 Ga

Action doer (with action verbs/transitive verbs)

 

たなかさんが　ゴジラを　たべます。

Tanaka-san ga Gojira o tabemasu.  
 Tanaka-san eats.  Gozilla is eaten. = Tanaka eats Gozilla.  

 

たなかさんを　ゴジラが　たべます。

Tanaka-san o Gozira ga tabemasu.  

Tanaka is eaten.  Gozilla eats. = Gozilla eats Tanaka-san.

を
 O


(“Wo” is used when typing this particle.)

Action-receiver (with action verbs/ transitive verbs) or direct-object.

The English equivalent of the above particles are the strict word order rules of an English sentence structure.  That is “Subject + Verb + direct object”.  If you switch the positions of the subject and the direct object, it means completely different (Tanaka eats?  Or Godzilla eats?). Now you can understand that the word orders are relatively loose in Japanese because the particle indicates which one is doing action and which one is receiving the action.  You can see how important the use of particles with nouns in Japanese sentence structure.

 

 

3. The strong particle は (pronounced as Wa) replaces the weak particles がGa or をO.

 

“は” particle at the top of a sentence. 

“Wa ” particle is written with は (not withわ) and replaces がand を particles when you bring the word at the beginning of a setnce to treat as a topic.  This is why がand を are called “weak” particles and often kicked out/replaced by は.   もMO (also, too) replaces がand を particles as well.  Therefore, the above noun with が or を are replaced by  は, and they becomes as follows.

たなかさんは (がis replaced by は)　ゴジラを　たべます。Tanaka eats Godzilla.

たなかさんは (をis replaced by は)　ゴジラが　たべます。Godzilla eats Tanaka.

 

わたしは　かのうです。　Watashi wa Kanou desu. I am (Ms.) Kano.
きょうは　あついです。　Kyou wa atsui desu. Today is hot.

Please refer to the は below to learn more cases which はreplaces がand をparticles.

 

Here are other rules that “は ” particle replaces がand を particles

 

は is used as a topic and placed at the beginning of a sentence.
(talking about.., speaking of.., as for..).

 

きょうは (replaced が)　わたしの　たんじょうびです。

Kyoo wa watashi no tanjoobi desu.
Today is my birthday.

せんせいは (replaced が)　おちゃを　のみます。

Sensei wa ocha o nomimasu.  A teacher drinks a green tea.

ピザは (replaced を)　せんせいが　たべました。

Piza wa sensei ga tabemashita.  As for piza, sensei ate (it).

 はWa replaces がGa or をO when a subject or a direct object is placed at the beginning of sentences.)

は is used for familiar topic (already discussed or implied in the conversation) 

A:おちゃを　のみますか。Do you drink green tea?

B:はい、（おちゃは）　のみます。Yes.  I drink (it).
You do not need to repeat the already mentioned word おyou’re your response since it is already mentioned (familiar item) but if you say it again, は replaces をsince it is already mentioned/introduced.  If this rule is hard to remember, do not repeat what is already introduced. 

 

Do not forget to end the statement with a verb even if it is the same word repeated.

は is used when contrasting/comparing

  

Often used with the conjunctive words “But, however, although” でも、しかし、…が、…けど

When a relative word such as “きょうkyoo, きのうkinou, あさってasatte" are used as an adverb, it does not require a particle unless those days are compared/contrasted.

きょう 、いきます。Kyoo ikumasu.
 (I) will go today.

 

きょうは　いきます。でも、あしたは　いきません。Kyoo wa ikimasu. Demo, ashita wa ikimasen.

 (I) will go today, but (I) will not go tomorrow.

は is used in negative sentences

さかなは (replaced を)　たべません。Sakana wa tabemasen. (I) do not eat fish.

Yamada-san will not come tomorrow.  あした　やだまさんはは (replaced が)　きません。

は can NOT be used with question words such as だれ  Dare (Who) and なに  Nani (What).  Thus it does NOT replace  がand を particles when used with questions words. 

A: だれが　たべましたか。  Who ate?
B: たなかさんが　たべました.  Tanaka ate.
(が = action doer/subject)

A: なにを　たべましたか  What (did you) eat?
B: ピザを　たべました.  (I) ate pizza.
 (o  = action receiver/direct-object)

When a subject or an object of a sentence is new information (not discussed yet or implied in the conversation), が or を particles should be used instead of は (even if the answer is in the negative.  See below)

A: だれが きませんか。Who will not come?
B: たなかさんが*きません。 Tanaka will not come. (It is Tanaka-san who does not come.)

Ａｄｖａｎｃｅｄ Usage: * If a speaker is thinking about all the other available people who may come: B: （やまださんは）たなかさんは*きません。Tanaka (at least) will not come (by comparing and contrasting with other available people).

A: やまださんは　なにを　たべませんか。What Yamada-san does not eat?
B: (やまださんは)さかなを*　たべません。 (Yamada-san) does not eat fish.

Ａｄｖａｎｃｅｄ Usage:* If a speaker is thinking about all the other available food, he/she would say: B: （やまださんは）さかなは　たべません。Yamada does not eat (at least) fish (by comparing and contrasting with all the other food items).

 

 

More advanced usage for your information.

は is used to imply a hidden meaning in comparing and contrasting

 

(This concept is for advanced level learner.)

English equivalent of this meaning can be “At last.”

 

When you are complementing someone, saying “You look pretty today,”  you should say きょう、きれいですね。　If you say きょうは、きれいですね。It may imply that the person under discussion is pretty at least today (he/she is not usually pretty/clean); or that she/he does not usually dress up so pretty… something is going on today?).

 

A:そのみせは　どうですか。How is the store?
B: ほんが　やすいです。A book is cheap.

Notes*  As a response to A’s question, B can say “ほんは　やすいです。” If B uses は, he may be comparing books with other items sold at the store; thus, implying “at least a book is cheap.” In this case, B may be implying that a book is cheap but other items are not.  Or B may be implying that (I know that at least) books are cheap.  You just have to ask more questions to understand the implications.

 

 

4. Use of がGa or をO  particles at beginner’s level.

 

がGa or

をO

New information to a listener.

 

 

は can NOT be used with question words such as だれ Dare (who) and なに Nani (what). Refer more above.

A: だれが　きますか。Who is coming?　

B: たなかさんが　きます。Tanaka-san is coming.

 

A: なにを　たべますか。What do you eat?

B:  ピザを　たべます。(I) eat pizza.

 

A: あした　なにを　しますか。What will you do tomorrow?

B: すしを　つくります　I am making sushi.

 

A:そのみせは　どうですか。How is the store?
B: ほんが　やすいです。A book is cheap.

 

Notes*  As a response to A’s question, B can say “ほんは　やすいです。” If B uses は, he may be comparing books with other items sold at the store; thus, implying “at least a book is cheap.” In this case, B may be implying that a book is cheap but other items are not.  Or B may be implying that (I know that at least) books are cheap.  You just have to ask more questions to understand the implications.

が
 Ga

indicating the subject of noun or adjective predicate

 

(noun) が  noun +desu.

(noun) が  adj. + desu.

 

 

 

 

（わたしは）たなかです。(noun predicate) (I) am Tanaka.

ほんは　やすいです。 (adj. predicate) A book is inexpensive.

（わたしは）たなかさんが　すきです。(adj. Predicate) (I) like Tanaka-san.  The word “すき to like” is not a verb in Japanese.  It is an adjective word.

(Watashi wa) Tanaka-san ga suki desu. 
"Ga" is used with "-- suki desu" to indicate what is liked.
( I ) like Tanaka-san.

 

 

が
 Ga

Some verbs require がbut it is a direct object if you translate it in English.

 

(noun) が あります

 

(noun) が わかります

（わたしは）しつもんが 　あります。

(Watashi wa) Shitsumon ga arimasu.
"Ga" is used with "arimasu" to indicate what exists/is possessed.

( I ) have a question. Or there is a question.

 

（わたしは） にほんごが 　わかります。
"Ga" is used with "wakarimasu" to indicate what is understood.
( I ) understand Japanese.

 

Again, under some context explained in the #3 above, がcan be replace by は.  （わたしは） にほんごは 　わかります。I understand (at least) Japanese.

 

 

 

5. Other Particles:

 

 

How English prepositional words (in, at, on, of, from, etc.) are expressed in Japanese?

Here are some common particles and their meanings to be learned at beginner’s levels.

 

Suggestion:  For a beginner, learning/memorizing a particle with a verb as a set (or a particle with a predicates/an ending statement of a sentence) is recommended.

 

 

に　

Ni

Destination

がっこうに　いきます。

Gakkoo ni ikimasu. (I ) go to school.
うちに　かえります。Uchi ni kaerimasu. (I ) go home

Time, days, month, years

２じに　がっこうに　いきます。

Ni-ji ni gakkoo ni ikimasu. (I) go to school at two.

どようびに　かいものに　いきます。Do-yoobi ni kaimono ni ikimasu. (I) go shopping on Sat.

へ　
 Pronounced as “E” (not “HE”)

Direction

がっこうへ　いきます。

Gakkoo e ikimasu. (I) go to school.
うちへ　かえります。(I) go home.

としょかんへ　あるきます。(I) walk to the library.

の　
 No

Connecting nouns and the first noun modifies the second noun

とうきょう　だいがくの　たなかです。

Tookyoo daigaku no Tanaka desu.
(I am) Tanaka from Tokyo Univ.

あしたの　よる　します。
Ashita no yoru shimasu.  (I) will do tomorrow night.

と　
 To

With

ともだちと　はなします。

Tomodachi to hanashimasu. (I) talk with a friend.

and

ピザと　サンドイッチを　たべます。

Piza to sandoicchi o tabemasu. (I) eat pizza and sandwiches.

Note: Do not use “to” to connect sentences as you use “and” in English.  Use “それからSorekara, そしてsoshite, そのあとsonoato, etc.” to connect sentences in Japanese.

で　
 De

Place of activities

だいがくの　としょかんで　べんきょう　します。

Daigaku no toshokan de benkyoo shimasu. (I) study at university library.

By means of, by using

にほんごで　いって　ください。

Nihongo de itte kudasai.  Say in Japanese.

テレビで　えいがを　みます。

Terebi de eega o mimasu.  (I) watch a movie on TV.

も　
 Mo

 

(も replaces が and 　を particles)

Also, too

A conversation between A and B about what they ate.

A: きのう　ピザを　たべました。
Kinoo pizza o tabemashita. (I) ate pizza yesterday.

B: わたしも　たべました。

Watashi mo tabemashita. I also ate it.

A: それから、サラダも　たべました。Sorekara, sarada mo tabemashita. And, I ate salad also.

B: (わたしは)　サラダは　たべませんでした。(Watashi wa) sarada wa tabemasen deshita. I did not eat salad. 

Note: は particle is used in a negative sentence instead of を particle.