wa-ga construction – Agony or Fun?! Second Language Learning

Japanese learning (A2 S27): Short Potential Expressions using Potential Form, and Changes of Particle from “-o” to “-ga” in cases of Transitive Verbs; [ _ ] wa [ _ ] ga [V-pt].

Yesterday, we learned how to conjugate a verb from Dictionary and Masu forms to Potential Form. For example, “Shiraberu” of Gr2 becomes “Shiraberareru” with “ra” in the middle, while “Hashiru” of Gr1-R becomes “Hashireru” without “ra”. And it is interesting that “Suru” of Gr3 becomes “Dekiru”. Using those potential forms of a verb, we are learning a sentence construction that uses Potential Form today.

If the verb is an intransitive verb, it doesn’t have much difficulty. The following examples use “Oyogu” which is an intransitive verb.

– Watashi wa Sen Me’etoru Oyogimasu. (I swim 1000 meters.) — Original verb sentence

– Watashi wa Sen Me’etoru Oyogemasu. (I can swim 1000 meters) — verb in Potential Form

But what will happen when a transitive verb sentence turns to be a potential expression with conjugation of the verb into potential form?

1a. Watashi wa Nihongo o Hanashimasu. (I speak Japanese.)

=>1b. Watashi wa Nihongo ga Hanasemasu. (I can speak Japanese.)

2a. Watashi wa Ichinichi Sanjukko Tango o Oboemasu. (I memorize 30 words a day.)

=> 2b. Watashi wa Ichinichi Sanjukko Tango ga Oboeraremasu. (I can memorize 30 words a day.)

Do you see any change other than the change of the verbs? Let’s review the construction of a transitive verb predicate sentence. It is;

3. [Subject] wa(/ga) [Object] o [Transitive verb] masu/masen/mashita/masendeshita.

In this construction, the particle “-o” is the object marker. The object is what the action of transitive verb exerts on. But when this sentence has changed to be a potential expression; the construction of 3 becomes as follows.

4. [ ___ ] wa [ ___ ] ga [Potential Form] masu/masen/mashita/masendeshita.

You will notice this 4 is a Wa-ga construction. In general sense, a Wa-ga construction can be regard as;

4’. [Topic] wa [Subject] ga [Predicate].

But in the case of Potential Expressions, it seems like to be;

4’’. [Subject] wa [Object] ga [V-pt] masu/— .

Actually, describing a potential expression as 4’’ has a huge concern. Because some Japanese learners don’t like the particle “-o”. Those learners try not to use and even eliminate the particle “-o” from their Japanese. This could result in wrong understanding of transitive verb sentence as below:

[WRONG] 3’. [Subject] wa [Object] ga [Transitive verb] masu/—.

3’ is wrong, but you can often hear that Japanese learners speak like 3’. This is a result of avoidance of particle “-o” and overgeneralization of Wa-ga construction.

So, it is important to know that the two sentences below are much different kind, even though they come from the same transitive verb.

3. [Subject] wa [Object] o [Transitive verb] masu/—.

4’’. [Subject] wa [Object] ga [V-pt] masu/— .

The sentence 3 is to express that an action taker exerts action onto an object.

The sentence 4’’ is to express it is possible to make action onto something. Therefore, what is described as [Object] in the sentence 4’’ is a thing that action can be done. And this [Object] is, to say, the center of consciousness to be specified.

Do you remember how to choose “wa” or “ga” for a subject marker?

[Known Subject] wa [Nature/Condition to be explained].

[Subject to be Specified] ga [Known Nature/Condition].

When the purpose of the sentence is to specify what the subject is, “ga” is used for the subject marker. This time, an object is to be specified when expressing an action is capable of doing.

Using “ga” is what to learn in A2 S27, however, the following sentence doesn’t sound completely wrong.

4’’’. [Subject] wa [Object] o [V-pt] masu/— .

For example; Watashi wa Nihongo o Hanasemasu. (I can speak Japanese.)

Not sounding completely wrong, or this being okay means that how the particle “-o” is essential for a transitive verb. Therefore, It is absolutely important to learn a transitive verb sentence (3.) first, and then only those who have mastered it should learn sentence like 4’’. The worst thing is overgeneralization of Wa-ga construction.

Let’s learn today’s sentence structure while also reviewing potential form of verbs.

Kiru / Kimasu (wear clothes)

– Hitori de Kimono o Kimasu. (I wear traditional Japanese clothes by myself.)

=> Hitori de Kimono ga Kiraremasu. (I can wear a Kimono by myself.)

Taberu / Tabemasu (eat)

– Nama no Kaki o Tabemasu. (I eat raw oysters.)

=> Nama no Kaki ga Taberaremasu. (I can eat raw oysters.)

Kuru / Kimasu (come)

– Ashita Hachi-ji ni Koko ni Kimasu. (I am coming here at eight tomorrow.)

=> Ashita Hachi-ji ni Koko ni Koraremasu. (I will be able to come here at eight tomorrow.)

Suru / Shimasu (do)

– Ato Ni-jikan Renshu Shimasu. (I am going to practice two hours more.)

=> Ato Ni-jikan Renshu Dekimasu. (I can practice two hours more.)

Gr1-W : Utau / Utaimasu (sing)

– Watashi wa Nihongo no Uta o Utaimasu. (I sing Japanese songs.)

=> Watashi wa Nihongo no Uta ga Utaemasu. (I can sing Japanese songs.)

Gr-K : Hiku / Hikemasu (Play a music instrument)

– Watashi wa Gita’a o Hikimasu. (I play a guitar.)

=> Watashi wa Gita’a ga Hikemasu. (I can play a guitar.)

Gr1-G : Togu / Togimasu (sharpen)

– Naifu o Togimasu. (I sharpen a knife.)

=> Naifu ga Togemasu. (I can sharpen a knife.)

Gr1-S : Naosu / Naoshimasu (repair, correct)

– Jitensha no Panku o Naoshimasu. (I repair the flat tire of the bicycle.)

=> Jitensha no Panku ga Naosemasu. (I can repair the flat tire of the bicycle.)

Gr1-T : Motsu / Mochimasu (hold)

– Mou Hitosu Kaban o Mochimasu. (I hold one more bag.)

=> Mou Hitotsu Kaban ga Motemasuasu. (I can hold one more bag.)

Gr1-B : Asobu / Asobimasu (play for fun) — Intransitive verb

– Kono Kouen de Asobimasu. (I play in this park.)

=> Kono Kouen de Asobemasu. (We can play in this park.)

Gr1-M : Yomu / Yomimasu (read) — Yomeru / Yomemasu

– Eigo no Hon o Yomimasu. (I read an English book.)

=> Eigo no Hon ga Yomemasu. (I can read an English book.)

Gr1-R : Tsukuru / Tsukurimasu (make, cook)

– Nihon Ryouri o Tsukurimasu. (I cook Japanese food.)

=> Nihon Ryouri ga Tsukuremasu. (I can cook Japanese food.)

This post was written with reference to the exercise A2 on Section27 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”

Japanese learning (A6 S22): Application of “Verb Modified Noun” to a “ga” word of Wa-ga construction whose Predicate is “Aru/Arimasu”: [Topic] wa {[Verb Clause] + [Noun] }ga + Arimasu.

Yesterday, we learned how to apply a verb modified noun to “-ga” word in wa-ga construction sentences. Today, too, we are going to learn the same construction as below;

[Topic] wa {[Verb Clause] + [Noun]} ga [Predicate].

The difference from yesterday is that;

– Yesterday: the predicates are I- adjectives and Na-adjectives.

– Today: the predicates are intransitive verbs.

In both cases, the predicates are stative words. Wa-ga constructions that came from a transitive verb sentence and its object turned to be the topic (-wa) are not included today’s wa-ga constructions.

The following examples are shown with titles by the predicate verbs.

(1) Aru/Arimasu

Aru/Arimasu is an intransitive verb to describe something is existing.

1. Watashi wa Jikan ga Arimasen. (I don’t have time.)

Unless you say the time is for what you do, the sentence 1 doesn’t have enough information.

1’ Watashi wa Nohongo o Benkyousuru Jikan ga Arimasen. (I don’t have time to study Japanese.)

2. Watashi wa Youji ga Arimasu. (I have a thing to do.)

This sentence 2 is grammatically okay, but the listener would quickly ask you what kind of thing you need to do. It is better to include what you need to do in the sentence.

2’ Watashi wa Byouin ni Iku Youji ga Arimasu. (I need to go to a hospital.)

Although A6 S23 in Minnano Nihongo deals with “Aru/Arimasu” only, let us learn several wa-ga construction sentences using other verbs for predicates.

(2) Iru/Irimasu（要る／要ります)

Note that it’s not “Iru/Imasu(居る／居ます)” meaning an existence of human and animals. This is “Iru/Irimasu” meaning necessity. Japanese sentence “A wa B ga Irimasu.” can be usually translated into English as “A needs B” which is a transitive verb sentence. On the other, “A wa B ga Irimasu.” is an intransitive verb sentence. The particle “-ga” is used in order to specify what is needed.

3. Watashi wa Kutsu ga Irimasu. (I need (a pair of) shoes.)

There are several kinds of shoes depending on the purpose. Some modification needs to be added to the noun “Kutsu”.

3’. Watashi wa Undoujou de Haku Kutsu ga Irimasu. (I need a pair of shoes so that I can put on sports ground.)

(3) Wakaru/Wakarimasu

Wakaru/Wakarimasu means “understand/can tell”. Japanese sentence “A wa B ga Wakarimasu.” can be usually translated into English as “A understand B” or “A can tell B.”, which are transitive verb sentences. On the other, “A wa B ga Wakarimasu.” is an intransitive verb sentence. The particle “-ga” is used in order to specify what is understandable.

4. Watasi wa Nihongo ga Wakarimasen. (I don’t understand Japanese.)

This sentence 4 is grammatically okay, but is it real that the speaker understands nothing at all? At least this person said one Japanese sentence. These should be different level of understanding for each person. Some modification needs to be put in front of “Nohongo”.

4’ Watasi wa Satou-san ga Iu Nihongo ga Wakarimasen. (I don’t understand what Sato-san speaks to me in Japanese.)

Now, “Koto ga Dekimasu” expressing Possibility in A2 to 4 S18 and “Koto ga Arimasu” expressing experience in A2 S19 are also kinds of wa-ga constructions that are using verb clause to modify a noun. The noun for these is “Koto” which doesn’t have a concrete meaning but has the function to make a verb as a noun-equivalent.

This post was written with reference to the exercise A6 on Section22 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”

Japanese learning (A5 S22): Application of “Verb Modified Noun” to a “ga” word of Wa-ga construction whose Predicate is I/Na-adjectives: [Topic] wa {[Verb Clause] + [Noun] }ga + [I-/Na- Adjective] desu.

We have been learning how to apply a “verb clause to modify a noun” to several types of sentences. Today’s sentence type is “Wa-ga construction” with adjective predicates. Though the same caution repeats every time when “Wa-ga construction” appears, a wa-ga construction and a transitive verb predicate sentence should not be confused.

– Wa-ga construction; [Topic] wa [Subject] ga [Predicate].

Example1; Ke’eki wa Kodomotachi ga Tabemashita. (When it comes to that cake, kids have eaten it.)

– Transitive verb predicate sentence; [Subject] wa/ga [Object] o [Transitive verb].

Example2; Kodomotachi wa Ke’eki o Tabemashita. (Kids ate the cake.)

More simply, the particle “ga” is for a subject, the particle “o” is for an Object. This is very the basic of Japanese language.

Actually, the Example1 is a minor type of wa-ga construction. For sake of simplicity, think there are two types of wa-ga constructions;

(1) Double subject and stative predicate

(2) The object turned to be the topic (-wa) and the predicate is a transitive verb.

Learning wa-ga construction of type (2) would end up confusion about the difference between wa-ga construction and transitive verb predicate sentence (hence confusion about the difference between particles “ga” and “o”). So, let us concentrate on the wa-ga construction of type (1). Type (1) has a stative predicate. At A5 in section22 (today), the predicates are I-adjective and Na-adjective, and at A6 (tomorrow), the predicate is the intransitive verb to describe existence, “Aru/Arimasu”.

Anyway, the purpose of this post is not to explain about wa-ga construction, but to show how “verb clause to modify a noun” can fit in the “-ga” word of a wa-ga construction.

Some of I-adjectives and Na-adjectives tend to be predicates of wa-ga construction. Let us pick up “Sukina” as example of Na-adjective, and “Hoshii” as example of I-adjective.

1. Watashi wa Hito ga Suki desu. (I like a human kind.)

Perhaps there is a person who likes any people. But it must be rare. Feeling information that the sentence1 gave you is not enough, you would like to ask what kind of human kind this person like. To say “what kind of human kind”, some modification needs to be placed in front of “Hito (a human kind)”. If the modification is a verb clause, it might be like below;

1’. Watashi wa Okane o Takusan Motte iru Hito ga Suki desu. (I like those who have a lot of money.)

In 1’, “Okane o Takusan Motte iru” is the verb clause modifying the noun “Hito”.

2. Watashi wa Reizouko ga Hoshii desu. (I want a refrigerator.)

There is no grammatical error in sentence 2. But if you said like this in a home appliances store, people there would ask you what kind of refrigerator you need. To say what kind of refrigerator you want, you put a modification in front of the noun “Reizouko (refrigerator)”. If the modification is a verb clause, the sentence 2 would change like below;

2’. Watashi wa Reitouko ga Aru Reizouko ga Hoshii desu. (I want a refrigerator that has the freezer.)

In 2’, “Reitouko ga Aru” is the verb clause modifying the noun “Reizouko”.

Usually, 1-door refrigerator doesn’t have the freezer. Opening the lid, you will see a small space that can make ice in the 1-door refrigerator. So, if you say that you want a refrigerator with freezer, it means you need to buy a 2-door refrigerator.

As was explained in A3 S22, not the particle “-wa” but “-ga” is used for the subject inside a verb clause that modifies a noun. Such “-ga” is often converted to “no” like the following;

2’’. Watashi wa Reitouko no Aru Reizouko ga Hoshii desu. (I want a refrigerator that has the freezer.)

This phenomenon is called “Ga-No Conversion”.

This post was written with reference to the exercise A5 on Section22 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”

Japanese Learning (A3 S16): Wa-ga Construction of Double Subject: “—ga” is a Part of “–wa”

A caution is always needed. “Wa-ga construction” is not always applicable. This site strongly recommends you telling the difference of “Wa-ga construction” from Sentences of transitive verb predicate.

– Wa-ga construction;

[Topic] wa [Subject] ga [State predicates] .

Example: Satou-san wa Kami ga Nagai desu. (As for Sato-san, her hair is long.)

– Transitive verb sentence;

[Subject] wa/ga [Object] o [Transitive verb].

Example: Satou-san wa Kami o Kirimashita. (Sato-san cut her hair.)

Many Japanese learners tend to use Wa-ga construction in many cases, and don’t learn how to use the particle “o” which is necessary to describe an object of action by a transitive verb.

But it is a fact that there is “Wa-ga construction” in Japanese. Wa-ga constrcution has several types, and some of them have already been introduced. Today’s Wa-ga construction is a typical one that has double subject. Let us look at the above example again;

Example: Satou-san wa Kami ga Nagai desu.

I put an English translation “As for Sato-san, her hair is long.”, so that the word order could have similarity with the original Japanese Wa-ga construction. But the following is better for the meaning;

– Sato-san has long hair.

Putting this English translation in your head, you may think that “Satou-san” must be the subject of Japanese sentence “Satou-san wa Kami ga Nagai desu.”. I don’t think that arguing whether subject is Satou-san-wa or Kami-ga is productive. Probably an acceptable answer in the realm of Japanese education, to the question what the subject is in Wa-ga construction of this type is;

– Satou-san wa = Topic

– Kami-ga = Subject

Again, this kind of argument is not productive. It would be better to put them as “double subject”. How double? It can be said that the word with “wa” is broader subject, while the word with “ga” is smaller and specific subject. In other words, “Something+ga” is a small part of “Something+wa”. For exapmple, Sato-san’s hair is a thing that exists on Sato-san’s head, you can call it a part of Sato-san. Confirm that “Something+ga” is a part of “Something+wa ” in the following examples;

1. Satou-san wa Se ga Takai desu. (As for Sato-san, her height is tall.)

2. Satou-san wa Kao ga Marui desu. (Sato-san is a person whose face is round.)

3. Satou-san wa Yubi ga Hosoi desu. (Sato-san’s fingers are thin.)

The English translation is inconsistent among 1 through 3, but I just tried to translate “Wa-ga construction” of “double subject” in English.

This post was written with reference to the exercise A3 on Section 16 of “Minna no Nihongo (2^nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”

Japanese Learning (A1 S13): Expressions of Desire for Possession using the I-adjective “Hoshii”; Watashi wa [A] ga Hoshii desu.

Take a look at an example of today’s construction;

example : Watashi wa Kanojo ga Hoshii desu. (I want a girlfriend.)

Note that “Kanojo” in Japanese usually means “a girlfriend”. Only when you learn grammar of a language, or translate sentences of foreign language, “Kanojo” means “she”. Anyway, the example is a “wa-ga construction”. If a teacher does not explain properly “wa-ga construction”, it could result in huge damage on Japanese learners because “wa-ga construction” may make a learner erroneously think that the particle “-ga” is for an object. The most important basic of Japanese is that the particle “-ga” is for a subject, while the particle “-o” for an object.

In an English sentence “I want a girlfriend”, “a girlfriend” is an object of the transitive verb “want”. But in the Japanese sentence “Watashi wa Kanojo ga Hoshii desu.” DO NOT think that “Kanojo(a girlfriend)” is an object, NOR think that “-ga” is the particle for the object.

Rather, think “Kanojo ga” is the subject of the predicate “Hoshii desu”. “Hoshii” is an I-adjective, and means someone wants something. Since “Kanojo” is what you want, it can be the subject of “Hoshii”. It may seem wrong from the context, because “Watashi (I)” is the subject of the sentence. So, I recommend you thinking as shown below;

– Watashi wa = the topic of the sentence

– Kanojo ga = the subject of “Hoshii”

– Hoshii desu = the predicate

It is fact that there are “wa-ga constructions” in Japanese. And sometimes they seem to be a “double subject sentence”. Be careful about “wa-ga construction” sentences, and not be confused with normal transitive verb sentences that use the particle “-o” for the object:

example of “wa-ga construction”;

– Watashi wa Kamera ga Hoshii desu. (I want a camera.)

example of “transitive verb sentence”;

– Watashi wa Kamera o Kaimasu. (I (am going to) buy a camera.)

Perhaps it is difficult to understand the lengthy explanation above. Then simply think that the I-adjective “Hoshii” usually becomes “wa-ga construction”. Practice and remember the following conversation;

A : Satou-san wa Nani ga Hoshii desuka. (Sato-san, what do you want?)

B : Watashi wa Atarashii Sumaho ga Hoshii desu. (I want a brand-new smartphone.)

This post was written with reference to the exercise A1 on Section 13 of “Minna no Nihongo” published by “3A Corporation”

Japanese Learning: Difference between Wa-Ga Construction sentence and Transitive Verb predicate sentence

This series have explained “Wa-ga construction” for several days, because the Japanese textbook “Minna no Nihongo” is dealing with “Wa-ga construction” in Chapter 9. And it is not only an introduction of “Wa-ga construction”, also an introduction of particle “ga”. If you were introduced particle “ga” through “Wa-ga construction”, you might think that the particles “wa” and “ga” could coexist in a sentence. Yes, they can be in a sentence together if the sentence is Wa-ga construction, but most of the time you have to choose one of the two (wa or ga) for subject in a sentence.

1. Watashi wa Nihonjin desu. (I am Japanese.)

2. Watashi ga Nihonjin desu. (I am the person who is Japanese.)

In the both sentence 1 and 2, the subject is “Watashi”. But the subject marker in 1 is “wa”, while the subject marker in 2 is “ga”. How do you properly choose “wa” or “ga” for a subject? The exact explanation would be lengthy. For the simplicity, let me say as below.

– When the predicate is the important information, use “wa” for subject marker.

– When the subject itself is the important information, use “ga” for subject marker.

Anyway, sticking to “Wa-ga construction” would cause a huge damage on your sense about Japanese. The followings are quiz about Wa-ga construction sentences that use verbs for predicate and Verb predicate sentences. Choose “ga” or “o”. And answer the type of verb.

1. Watashi wa Okane { ga or o } arimasu. (I have money.)