〜が〜
Subject marker (new info)
が marks the subject of a sentence, especially when the information is new or is the focus. You also need it with あります／います, with question words like だれ, and with words like すき, わかる and 上手.
How to make it
| Rule | Example |
|---|---|
| Noun + が + verb | ねこ → ねこがいます |
| Question word + が | だれ → だれが来ましたか |
| Noun + が + すき／わかる／上手 etc. | 日本語 → 日本語がわかります |
| A は B が + adjective (describing a feature) | うさぎ → うさぎは耳が長いです |
Meaning and examples
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1. New information and existence
When you say that something or someone is there, the thing is new to the listener, so it takes が with あります or います.
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あそこにねこがいます。
あそこにねこがいます。
asoko ni neko ga imasu.
There's a cat over there.
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木の下に白い車があります。
きのしたにしろいくるまがあります。
ki no shita ni shiroi kuruma ga arimasu.
There's a white car under the tree.
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2. Question words and their answers
A question word that is the subject always takes が, and the answer keeps が.
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だれが来ましたか。
だれがきましたか。
dare ga kimashita ka.
Who came?
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木下さんが来ました。
きのしたさんがきました。
kinoshita san ga kimashita.
Ms Kinoshita came.
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3. Likes, skills and understanding
With すき, きらい, 上手, 下手, わかる and ほしい, the thing liked or understood is marked with が, not を.
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わたしは魚がすきです。
わたしはさかながすきです。
watashi wa sakana ga suki desu.
I like fish.
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父は日本語がわかります。
ちちはにほんごがわかります。
chichi wa nihongo ga wakarimasu.
My father understands Japanese.
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母はりょうりが上手です。
はははりょうりがじょうずです。
haha wa ryouri ga jouzu desu.
My mother is good at cooking.
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4. Describing a feature
In A は B が + adjective, は gives the topic and が marks the part you describe.
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うさぎは耳が長いです。
うさぎはみみがながいです。
usagi wa mimi ga nagai desu.
Rabbits have long ears.
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Nuance
Think of は as 'as for (something we both know)' and が as pointing at the new or important part. Question words such as だれ, 何 and どれ never take は when they are the subject. A useful check: if the question used が, the answer uses が too.
Compared with
は marks the topic, something already known; the new information comes after it. が puts the focus on the subject itself.
を marks the object of an action verb (本を読みます). With すき, わかる and 上手, the 'object' takes が instead.
This is one of the most common が patterns: the thing you like is marked with が.
Common mistakes
Wrongだれは来ましたか。
Rightだれが来ましたか。
A question word as the subject always takes が, never は.
Wrongわたしはすしをすきです。
Rightわたしはすしがすきです。
すき is an adjective, not an action verb, so the thing you like takes が.
Wrongつくえの上に本をあります。
Rightつくえの上に本があります。
あります and います take が for the thing that exists; を is for objects of actions.
Practice
JLPT style: choose the best answer for （ ）.
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1つくえの上に本（ ）あります。
The thing that exists takes が with あります. を marks an object, で a place of action and へ a direction.
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2だれ（ ）このえをかきましたか。
だれ is the subject here, and question-word subjects take が. は is never used after だれ as subject.
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3わたしは日本のうた（ ）すきです。
With すき, the thing you like is marked with が. に, を and で do not fit here.
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4うさぎは耳（ ）長いです。
In A は B が + adjective, the feature (耳) takes が. The other particles don't mark the subject of an adjective.
FAQ
What is the difference between は and が?
は marks the topic, something the listener already knows, and the focus falls on what comes after it. が marks the subject when it is new or is the focus. 'Who came?' 'Kinoshita came' uses が because the person is the new information.
Why do I say すしがすき and not すしをすき?
すき is a な-adjective, not an action verb, so it doesn't take an object with を. The thing you like is marked with が. The same goes for きらい, 上手, 下手, ほしい and わかる.
Can I use は with あります and います?
Yes, when the thing is already the topic: 本はつくえの上にあります means 'The book is on the desk.' Use が when you introduce something new: 'There is a book on the desk.'
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