Hello! I have a question on "ga", when should I use it and what’s the difference between "ga" and "wa". Thank you
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"ga" and "wa"
Know someone who might be able to answer this question?
3 Answers
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+750
Hi jiji-san,
This is a very important question. Surely it's challenging for Japanese learners to use "wa" and "ga" properly.
Let me explain about the basic difference between "wa" and "ga" (when to use "wa" and "ga") here.
<wa>
- to set a topic
e.g. このおみせは、ケーキがおいしいです。(Talking about this shop, their cakes are delicious.) - to express *old information (*something has already been mentioned or known by both a speaker and the listener)
e.g. このおみせは、にんきです。 (This shop is popular.) - to express contrast
e.g. わたしはチョコレートケーキをかって、ともだちはイチゴのケーキをかいました。
(I bought a chocolate cake, while my friend bought a strawberry cake.)
<ga>
- to set a subject
e.g. このおみせは、ケーキがおいしいです。 - to express new information
e.g. あたらしいおみせが、えきのちかくにあります。(There is a shop near the station.) - to identify someone / something
e.g. わたしが、ケーキをかいます。(I'm the one who will buy cakes [you will not]) - to be used with question words
e.g. だれがいえにきますか？ (Who is visiting my house?) - to be used in a subordinate clause
e.g. もしあなたがくるなら、へやをそうじします。(If you come over, I will clean my room.)
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hi J
wa is a topic particle, as in Anata wa ... or, Watashi wa...., and is spelled
with the Hiragana 'ha' and is understood from usage to be pronounced wa
:)
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Hi all, just a Japanese guy wandering around to find a place to reccomend friends. I thought perhaps I could make myself useful while at it, so here's my take on the subject. Enjoy!
ga = が
wa = は
このおみせはケーキがおいしいです。 This shop has good cakes.
このおみせはケーキはおいしいです。 Cakes are good in this shop. (Usually, が(ga) is used. If a Japanese guy/gal talks like this to you, you might want to avoid the other stuff...)
このおみせがにんきです。 This shop is the popular one. (Amongst many you can see at the location, or perhaps among the competition.)
このおみせはにんきです。 This shop is popular. (No other context.)
わたしがチョコレートケーキをかって、ともだちがイチゴのケーキをかいました。I bought the chocolate cake and my friend bought the strawberry cake. (Could be that the cakes are present at the conversation.)
わたしはチョコレートケーキをかって、ともだちはイチゴのケーキをかいました。I bought a chocolate cake and my friend bought a strawberry cake. (Just sayin.)
あたらしいおみせが、えきのちかくにあります。 There is a new shop near the station.
あたらしいおみせは、えきのちかくにあります。 The new shop is near the station. (Conversation in prior.)
わたしが、ケーキをかいます。 I'll get the cake. (Possibly amongst the people involved and/or amongst the list of things to buy.)
わたしは、ケーキをかいます。 I'll buy cake. (Just sayin.)
Wow, I never thought of it this way...
