Examples of topic marker は vs subject marker が
Japanese Sentence Structure Demystified: Your Comprehensive Guide: Examples of topic marker は vs subject marker が
Here are examples illustrating the difference between Japanese topic marker は (wa) and subject marker が (ga):
Examples with は (topic marker):
- 日本は美しいです。 (にほんはうつくしいです。)
“Japan is beautiful.”
は marks 日本 (Japan) as the topic about which something is said. 1, 3 - 私は学生です。 (わたしはがくせいです。)
“I am a student.”
は marks 私 (I) as the topic, setting the context of the sentence. 1 - 今日(は)暑いです。 (きょうはあついです。)
“Today is hot.”
は marks 今日 (today) as the topic, indicating what the sentence is about. 5
Examples with が (subject marker):
- 誰が来ますか？ (だれがきますか？)
“Who will come?”
が marks 誰 (who) as the subject, the one performing the action. 9, 1 - 猫がいる。 (ねこがいる。)
“There is a cat.”
が marks 猫 (cat) as the subject that exists or performs an action. 1 - 彼が先生です。 (かれがせんせいです。)
“He is the teacher.”
が marks 彼 (he) as the subject, emphasizing who the teacher is. 1
Key distinction:
- は introduces the topic, setting the theme or context of a sentence, often implying known or established information. It can contrast or highlight the topic (“As for…”). 3, 4
- が identifies the subject of the sentence, emphasizing the doer of the action or the one being described, often introducing new or specific information. 4, 9
Summary table of examples:
| Particle | Example (Japanese) | Meaning | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| は | 日本は美しいです。 | Japan is beautiful. | Topic marker: sets Japan as the topic |
| が | 猫がいる。 | There is a cat. | Subject marker: cat is subject/existing |
| は | 私は学生です。 | I am a student. | Topic marker: sets “I” as topic/context |
| が | 彼が先生です。 | He is the teacher. | Subject marker: emphasizes “he” as subject |
Thus, は is more about what the sentence is “about” while が marks who or what is performing or experiencing something in the sentence.