Learn Japanese Distinguishing Particles は and が Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In the sentence 「猫___好きです。」 (I like cats), which particle correctly fills the blank to mark '猫' (cats) as the subject of the adjective '好き' (likeable)?
- は (wa)
- が (ga) (Correct answer)
- を (o)
- も (mo)
Correct answer: が (ga)
The particle が (ga) is used to mark the subject of a state or feeling, such as with adjectives like 好き (suki - likeable) or verbs like わかる (wakaru - to understand). While は (wa) marks the topic, が (ga) specifically identifies what is liked.
Question 2: A student sees a dog running in the park and wants to tell their friend. Which of the following sentences is the most natural way to introduce this new information?
- 犬は走っています。
- 犬を走っています。
- 犬が走っています。 (Correct answer)
- 犬も走っています。
Correct answer: 犬が走っています。
The particle が (ga) is used to introduce new information into a conversation or to describe something the speaker has just observed. Since the dog is new information, 「犬が走っています。」 (A dog is running) is the most appropriate and natural choice.
Question 3: Which of the following statements best describes the primary function of the particle は (wa)?
- It exclusively marks the grammatical subject of a sentence.
- It indicates the direct object of a verb.
- It marks the topic of the sentence, often something already known to the speaker and listener. (Correct answer)
- It is used to connect two nouns with the meaning of 'and'.
Correct answer: It marks the topic of the sentence, often something already known to the speaker and listener.
The primary function of は (wa) is to mark the topic of a sentence. This topic is what the sentence is about and is often information that has already been introduced or is mutually understood by the speaker and listener. It provides context for the new information that follows.
Question 4: In a dialogue, Person A asks: 「誰___来ましたか。」 (Who came?). Person B, seeing that Tanaka-san has arrived, should reply using which particle?
- 田中さんは来ました。
- 田中さんが来ました。 (Correct answer)
- 田中さんも来ました。
- 田中さんを来ました。
Correct answer: 田中さんが来ました。
When a question word like 誰 (dare - who) is the subject, it is marked by が (ga). The answer to such a question must also use が (ga) to identify the specific subject that completes the question. Therefore, 「田中さんが来ました。」 (Tanaka-san is the one who came) is the correct response.
Question 5: Consider the sentence: 「ビール___飲みますが、ワイン___飲みません。」 (I drink beer, but I don't drink wine.) Which particle should be used in both blanks to create a sense of contrast?
- が (ga)
- を (o)
- で (de)
- は (wa) (Correct answer)
Correct answer: は (wa)
Besides marking the topic, は (wa) is used to show contrast between two or more items. In this sentence, using は in both places emphasizes the contrast between drinking beer and not drinking wine.
Question 6: A storyteller begins a fairy tale with, 「昔々、ある所におじいさん___住んでいました。」 (Once upon a time, an old man lived in a certain place.) The next sentence is, 「おじいさん___とても親切でした。」 (The old man was very kind.) Which particles correctly fill the blanks in order?
- は (wa), が (ga)
- が (ga), が (ga)
- が (ga), は (wa) (Correct answer)
- は (wa), は (wa)
Correct answer: が (ga), は (wa)
The particle が (ga) is used to introduce a subject for the first time. Once the 'old man' (おじいさん) is introduced, he becomes the established topic of the story. Therefore, the topic marker は (wa) is used in the subsequent sentence to provide more information about him.
Learn Japanese Distinguishing Particles は and が Questions and Answers
In the sentence 「猫___好きです。」 (I like cats), which particle correctly fills the blank to mark '猫' (cats) as the subject of the adjective '好き' (likeable)?