Particlesga

がSubject marker / identifier

が marks the subject or the thing you identify. It’s common when you answer: “WHO/WHAT is it?” It also appears with existence (あります/います) and when describing what is happening (e.g., あめがふっています). If は sets the topic, が often marks the focus/new information inside the sentence.

Key points

Quick reminders for how to use it.

Use が to identify the subject/focus: “X is the one (that…)”.
Common with questions: だれが / なにが (who/what).
Use が with あります/います to mark what exists.
Often appears in patterns like: 〜は〜がすきです (topic + focus).

Patterns

Common structures you’ll see.

だれが〜ですか。

dare ga ~ desu ka?

Who is ~?

Note: Use が to ask about the subject/focus.

なにが〜ですか。

nani ga ~ desu ka?

What is ~?

〜があります。／〜がいます。

~ ga arimasu. / ~ ga imasu.

~ exists (inanimate) / ~ exists (animate).

〜は〜がすきです。

~ wa ~ ga suki desu.

As for ~, (I) like ~.

Note: が marks the thing you like (focus).

あめがふっています。

ame ga futteimasu.

It’s raining.

Note: が marks what is happening (rain).

Common mistakes

Watch out for these.

×Replacing が with は in answers to “who/what?” (it can change the focus).
×Forgetting が with あります/います (often needed to mark what exists).
×Overusing が everywhere; sometimes は is better when setting topic or contrast.

Examples

Real sentences with notes.

ここにえきがあります。

koko ni eki ga arimasu.

There is a station here.

👉 が marks what exists (えき). に marks location of existence.

にわにねこがいます。

niwa ni neko ga imasu.

There is a cat in the yard.

👉 います: living thing. が marks the cat (what exists).

だれがきますか。

dare ga kimasu ka?

Who is coming?

👉 Question word + が asks for the subject.

なにがすきですか。

nani ga suki desu ka?

What do you like?

👉 が marks the thing you like (focus).

わたしはパンがすきです。

watashi wa pan ga suki desu.

I like bread.

👉 Topic: わたしは. Focus/liked thing: パンが.

きょうはあめがふっています。

kyou wa ame ga futteimasu.

Today, it’s raining.

👉 Topic: today. New info: rain is falling (あめが).

あのひとがたなかさんです。

ano hito ga tanaka-san desu.

That person is Tanaka.

👉 Identification: “That person (and not someone else) is Tanaka.”

Compare with

Related particles to review next.

は (topic)

は sets the topic (“as for X…”). が identifies the focus/new info.

も (also)

も can replace が to mean “also (as the subject/focus)”.

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