が
Go to:
[Location][Meaning][Related
Expression]
-
It follows a piece of new information.
私が行きます。
I
will go. ("I" is the new information.)
-
It often indicates the new information
in a "there is" sentence.
ウォータービルにはコルビー大学があります。
There is Colby College in Waterville.
-
It follows the subject of the
sentence.
私が行きます。I
will go. ("I" is the new information.)
-
It follows the "wh"
question words such as なに (what),
だれ (who, whom), and どこ (where)?
何がありますか。 What
is there?
だれがこのウエｯブページを作りましたか。Who
made this web page?
どこがいいですか。Where
would be good?
※These
questions should be answered with noun + が
. . .
本があります。
私が作りました。
京都がいいです。
-
It follows the subject
in an subordinate clause.
私が食べたりんごはおいしかったです。The
apple I ate was good.
※"私が食べた
(I ate)" modifies the "apple," hence it
is a subordinate clause.
-
It designates the object
of 「〜たい」.
私は和食が食べたい。I
would like to eat Japanese food.
※The
object of a verb in the 「〜がる」form
is marked with を.
彼は洋食を食べたがっています。
He wants to eat Western food.
-
It designates the object
of 「すき」／「きらい」.
わたしは、おすしが好きです。I
like sushi.
わたしは、お寿司がきらいです。I
don't like sushi.
※Other
words that normally take the particle が instead
of をto designate
its object are: いります
(need)、必要です(necessary)、わかります(understand)、ほしい(want)、こわい(afraid).
-
It designates the object
of potential forms of a verb.
私は日本語が話せます。I
can speak Japanese.
私はテニスができます。I
can play tennis.
-
In classical Japanese, が
was used like contemporary の
.
我が故郷 My
home country.
-
は is a topic marker
and is often confused with が.
Go to wa (は)
私が学生です。I am the student (you are
looking for).
私は学生です。I am a student.
ｩTamae
Prindle/Colby College