Particle か – ka for questions

October 23, 2011 by 3 Comments

The Japanese particle か – ka

Function of the particle か – ka

This particle か – ka is used to express a question. In contrast to Western languages Japanese to go up with the voice at the end of a question. A particle is therefore used to indicate a question to one’s counterpart.

How to use the particle か – ka

The particle か – ka is added at the end of a sentence to change it from a statement to a question.

[sentence] + [か/KA]

Example sentence for the particle か – ka

Kanji 貴方は先生ですか？
Furigana あなたはせんせいですか？
Romaji anata wa sensei desu ka?
English Are you a teacher?
Kanji あの映画は面白いですか？
Furigana あのえいがはおもしろいですか？
Romaji ano eiga wa omoshiroi desuka?
English Is this movie interesting?
Filed Under: Grammar, Particles Tagged With: ,

Particle が (ga)

October 5, 2011 by 8 Comments

The Japanese particle が – ga

FUNCTION OF THE が – GA PARTICLE

The particle が – GA indicates  the subject of a sentence when it is new information for the listener or when subject is emphasized. The particle が GA can also be used to express a question.

HOW TO USE THE PARTICLE が – GA

[subject noun + [が/GA] + rest of the sentence

Example sentence – が / GA to introduce a new subject

Kanji 建物があります。
Furigana たてものがあります。
Romaji tatemono ga arimasu.
English There is a building.
Kanji 母が寝ています。
Furigana ははがねています。
Romaji haha ga nete imasu.
English Mother is sleeping.
Kanji 花が咲いています。花はきれいです。
Furigana はながさいています。はなはきれいです。
Romaji hana ga saite imasu. hana wa kirei desu.
English The flowers are blossoming. The flowers are beautiful.

In the first sentence the flowers are a newly introduced subject and GA is used. As the subject is not new information anymore in the second sentence WA is used.

EXAMPLE SENTENCE – が / GA TO EMPHASIZE A SUBJECT

Kanji この方が先生です。
Furigana このかたがせんせいです。
Romaji kono kata ga sensei desu.
English This person over there is the teacher.
Kanji 私が行きます。
Furigana わたしがいきます。
Romaji watashi ga ikimasu.
English I am the one who goes.

EXAMPLE SENTENCE – が / GA TO EXPRESS A QUESTION

Kanji 誰が来ましたか？
Furigana だれがきましたか？
Romaji dare ga kimashita ka?
English Did anybody come?
Filed Under: Particles Tagged With: ,

Particle は (wa)

October 3, 2011 by 9 Comments

The Japanese particle は – wa

Function of the は – wa particle

は

The particle は – wa indicates  the main topic of a sentence. In English it would be similar to starting a sentence with “as for…”. Most of the times the main topic of the sentence is identical to what is called the subject in English.

How to use the particle は – wa

[topic of the sentence] + [は/wa] + rest of the sentence

Japanese Examples SENTENCES with the particle は – wa

Kanji 私は先生です。
Furigana わたしはせんせいです。
Romaji watashi wa sensei desu.
English I am a teacher. (As for me, I am a teacher.)
Kanji 明日は働きます。
Furigana あしたははたらきます。
Romaji ashita wa hatarakimasu.
English Tomorrow I work.
Kanji この映画は面白いです。
Furigana このえいがはおもしろいです。
Romaji kono eiga wa omoshiroi desu.
English That movie is interesting.

Lessons & tests for the Japanese particle は – wa

Learn more about Japanese particles

Learn more about the 188 particles used in the Japanese language.

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Particle に (ni) and へ (e)

March 27, 2011 by 3 Comments

These two particles are used to express a direction, whereas に (ni) defines a precise location and へ (e) more an area.
1. Precise location:

 

Kanji 私は会社に行きます。
Furigana わたしはかいしゃにいきます。
Romaji watashi wa kaisha ni ikimasu.
English I go to my company.

 

2. Area:

 

Kanji 私は来年日本へ行きます。
Furigana わたしはらいねんにほんへいきます。
Romaji watashi wa rainen nihon e ikimasu.
English I will go to Japan next year.

 

 

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Particle で (de)

March 27, 2011 by 3 Comments

1. Place of action:

 

Kanji 私は事務室で働きます。
Furigana わたしはじむしつではたらきます。
Romaji watashi wa jimushitsu de hatarakimasu.
English I work in the office.

 

2. Means:

 

Kanji 私は電車で帰ります。
Furigana わたしはでんしゃでかえります。
Romaji watashi wa densha de kaerimasu.
English I return home by train.

 

3. Material:

 

Kanji この建物は材木で出来ています。
Furigana このたてものはざいもくでできています。
Romaji kono tatemono wa zaimoku de dekite imasu.
English This building is made of wood.

 

4. Sum:

 

Kanji 全部で千円です。
Furigana ぜんぶでせんえんです。
Romaji zenbu de sen en desu.
English The total is 1,000 Yen.

 

 

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