タグ: wa or ga

Japanese learning (A2 S29): Applications of “V-te iru” that expresses “A Result is Persisting” with Subject Marker “-wa”; [Subject] wa [Vi-te] imasu.

There are not much differences from yesterday’s sentences. Both in yesterday’s and today’s, “V-te iru” works to express a result that happened in one time in the past has still been persisting. This kind of “V-te iru” sometimes is dealt with a part of “V-te iru for “Action Continues””, but when an intransitive verb is used for “V-te iru”, it is categorized as “A Result is Persisting”. The only difference between yesterday and today is the subject markers. Yesterday’s sentences use “ga” and today’s “wa”. And today’s sentences use one-series of Ko-so-a words,

1. Kono Denki wa Kiete imasu. (This light is turned off.)

2. Sono Ko’ohi’i Sa’aba’a wa Koshou Shite imasu. (That coffee server broke.)

3. Ano Ki wa Taorete imasu. (That tree has fallen over.)

The sentence 1 indicates that the light turned off in some point in past. After that, the light has been off until now. This explanation was repeated in yesterday’s post. So for today, let us just look at two issues; comparison between intransitive and transitive verbs, and comparison between “wa” and “ga”.

[ 1 ] Intransitive verbs and Transitive verbs

1. Int: Kieru/Kiemasu : Denki ga Kiemashita. (The light turned off.)

  Tra: Kesu/Keshimasu : Watashi wa Denki o Keshimashita. (I turned the light off.)

2. Int: Koshoushuru/Koshoushimasu : Ko’ohi’i Sa’aba’a ga Koshou shimasita. (The coffee server has broken.)

 Interestingly, there isn’t the transitive version of “Koshousuru/Koshoushimasu”. One of group3 verb “Suru/Shimasu” is very often used as transitive verbs. Although “Suru/Shimasu” sometimes works as intransitive verbs, but not many times. Likewise, compound group 3 verbs with active noun and “Suru/Shimasu” are usually transitive.

<examples — transitive>

– Benkyou-suru (study) : Nihongo o Benkyou-shimasu (study Japanese)

– Ryouri-suru (cook) : Suigyouza o Ryouri-shimasu (cook boiled dumplings)

– Yoyaku-suru (reserve) : Hoteru o Yoyaku-shimasu (reserve a hotel room)

<examples — intransitive>

But there are some compound Gr3 verbs that is a combination of active noun and “Suru/Shimasu”

– Sanka-suru (participate) : Boranthia ni Sanka-shimasu (participate a volunteer activity)

– Goukaku-suru (pass a exam) : Kiken ni Goukaku-shimasu (pass the examination)

– Shuushoku-suru (start working) : Kaisha ni Shuushoku-shimasu (start working in a company)

– Koshou-suru (break) : Kopi’iki ga Koshou-shimasita (Photocopy machine has broken.)

So, group3 verbs “Naninani-suru” are usually transitive verbs, but you need to be careful that some of them are intransitive verbs.

3. Int: Taoreru/Taoremasu : Ki ga Taore mashita. (The tree fell down.)

  Tra: Taosu/Taoshimasu : Furui Ie o Taoshi mashita. (We tore down the old house.)

As is the case in 1 and 3, There are pairs of intransitive verb and transitive verb. It is like rise-raise, lie-lay, and sit-seat in English. The problem is that there are so many such pairs in Japanese. On the other, sometimes like 2, there is only intransitive verb and no transitive verb that can be a pair with intransitive verb. Actually, there is a way to have such intransitive verb work as transitive verb. The way will be explained in the section 48.

[ 2 ] “wa” or “ga” for Subject Marker

All the three sentences of today use “wa” for the subject marker.

1. Kono Denki <wa> Kiete imasu. (This light is turned off.)

2. Sono Ko’ohi’i Sa’aba’a <wa> Koshou Shite imasu. (That coffee server broke.)

3. Ano Ki <wa> Taorete imasu. (That tree has fallen over.)

In these situations, the speaker and the listener share what the subject is. Two persons are looking the same light in the sentence 1, the same coffee server in 2, and the same tree in 3. But if you want to use “ga” instead of “wa”, what kind of situation necessitates use of “ga” for subject marker?

1’. A : I have heard that a light bulb is off. Which one is turned off?

B : Kono Denki <ga> Kiete imasu. (This the light that is turned off.)

2’. A : I have heard that one of coffee servers had got problem and didn’t work well. Do you know which one is broken?

B : Sono Ko’ohi’i Sa’aba’a <ga> Koshou Shite imasu. (That coffee server is the one that has broken.)

3’. A : There are many trees in the park. Do you know if there is a tree that fell down by the strong wind yesterday?

B : Ano Ki <ga> Taorete imasu. (That tree has fallen over.)

As you can see, if we think of situation in which “ga” is used for the subject markers, we need to make up settings. On the other, the sentences 1, 2, and 3 using “wa” are simply mentioning the situation. It is really a difficult problem as to which of “wa” or “ga” is to be used. If you don’t know which is better, using “wa” may be a good choice. “wa” is broadly being used for topic marker and subject marker. This is the reason that you learn “wa” in the first day of Japanese learning, but “ga” comes later.

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This post was written with reference to the exercise A2 on Section29 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”

Japanese learning (A6 S27): Comparison; Do one thing but don’t the other; [N1] wa [V1] masu ga, [N2] wa [V2] masen.

The section 27 is basically to learn the potential expressions using one of verb conjugation patterns “Potential form”. Today’s sentence construction can use potential form of verbs, but it is not always necessary to use them, ordinary verb predicates can also be applied to today’s construction. Look at today’s sentence construction and its examples;

1. [Noun1] wa [Verb1] masu ga, [Noun2] wa [Verb2] masen.

Examples;

2. Eigo wa Hanase masu ga, Nihongo wa Hanase masen.

(Although I can speak English, I can’t speak Japanese.)

 — “Hanaseru/Hanasemasu” is the potential form of “Hanasu/Hanashimasu”

3. Souji wa Shi masu ga, Sentaku wa Shimasen.

(Although I am going to clean (the room), not to wash my clothes.)

 — “Shimasu” is not the Potential form.

Therefore, whether the Verb1 and Verb2 in the construction 1 are in potential form or not is not an major issue. It is just up to what you want to express about two actions. If there are other issues to talk about the sentence construction 1, I would bring two things out; (1) particle “wa” for comparison, and (2) conjunctive particle “ga”. As for (2), it was already explained at A5 S26. So let us learn (1) now.

(1) Particle “-wa” for comparison.

Interestingly enough, “-wa” is not a “case particle”, while “-ga” and ”-o” are case particles. But I don’t think it’s important to introduce a meta language to name the group of particles including “-wa”. What is important is to know the following three functions of “-wa”.

1) “-wa” for the subject of a sentence

2) “-wa” for the topic of a sentence

3) “-wa” for comparison

1) “-wa” for the subject of a sentence

“-wa” is introduced in the first day of Japanese learning.

4. Watashi wa Daigakusei desu. (I am a university student.)

“-wa” in the sentence 4 is the subject marker and the topic marker at the same time. Before the introduction of the particle “-ga”, “-wa” can be regarded as the particle for subject marker. Once “-ga” is introduced as subject marker, you need to select “-wa” or “-ga” to make a word the subject in a sentence. How to select “-wa” or “-ga” is as shown below;

[Known Subject] wa [Name/Condition/Action to be explained].

[Subject to be specified] ga [Known Name/Condition/Action].

“Subject+wa” is used to explain the subject, and “Subject+ga” is used to specify who/what the subject is. Or, more simply;

[Subject] wa [Important Information].

[Important Information] ga [Predicate].

Look at two examples that have “-wa” or “-ga” for subjects;

– Watashi wa Nihonjin desu. (I am a Japanese.)

– Watashi ga Nihonjin desu. (I am the Japanese whom you are looking for.)

Which do you think is more often uttered? It’s “Watashi wa”. Since “-wa” is more broadly used, this particle should be taught in the first day of learning Japanese.

2) “-wa” for the topic of a sentence

Because of being used more broadly, “-wa” can be a topic marker. “Wa-ga construction” is the typical example in which “-wa” functions as topic marker.

5. Nihon wa Sakana ga Oishii desu. (In Japan, fishes are very tasty.)

Usually in this kind of “wa-ga construction”, “-wa” is called “topic marker” and “-ga” is “subject marker”. But it also seems like “-wa” is the marker of broader subject and “-ga” is more specified subject.

And when a word with other particle becomes the topic of a sentence, “-wa” takes place of the particle and the word moves forward. Take a look at the following conversation;

A: Doko de Sakana o Tabe mashitaka. (Where did you eat fish?)

B: Nihon de Sakana o Tabe mashita. (I ate fish in Japan.)

Both in A and B, the word “Sakana” is with the particle “-o” because “Sakana” is the object of transitive verb “Taberu”. Then, let us make “Sakana” the topic;

A: Sakana wa Doko de Tabe mashitaka. (As to fish, where did you eat it?)

B: Sakana wa Nihon de Tabe mashita. (As to fish, it was Japan where I ate it.)

You see that the particle “-o” is replaced by “-wa” to make “Sakana” the topic of the sentences. And the word “Sakana” has moved forward to be placed at the beginning of the sentence.

3) “-wa” for comparison

This is what we learn in the exercise A6 in the section 27. Actually, either of “-wa” for subject and topic, there are a little bit of nuance of comparison. If there are several sentences like follows;

Watashi wa Daigakusei desu. (I am a university student.)

Soshite, Satou-san wa Daigakuinsei desu. (And, Sato-san is a graduate student.)

Sorekara, Suzuki-san wa Kaishain desu. (In addition, Suzuki-san is a company employee.)

In these three sentences, the particle “-wa”(s) are subject markers with nuance comparing three people. Let’s look at today’s construction again;

1. [Noun1] wa [Verb1] masu ga, [Noun2] wa [Verb2] masen.

In this construction, two “-wa”(s) indicate that Noun1 and Noun2 are to be compared.

(2) Conjunctive Particle “ga”

In the sentence construction

[Clause1] + ga, [Clause2].

Functions of the conjunctive particle “-ga,” has already been explained at A5 S26. The summary was like below;

<1> “-ga,” for But-However connections should be taken as basic especially in writing.

<2> “-ga,” for Introduction is used in conversation.

<3> “-ga,” for Ambiguous connection is to be avoided.

Let’s look at the example 2 again;

2. Eigo wa Hanase masu ga, Nihongo wa Hanase masen.

(Although I can speak English, I can’t speak Japanese.)

The conjunction particle “-ga,” in the example 2 functions mainly as <1> and slightly as <2>. It is <1> because two opposite clauses are connected; Clause1 is positive but Clause2 is negative. At the same time, it is <2> because Clause1 is like an introduction of Clause2.

For your reference, a little more examples are shown below;

– Verb predicates that are not in potential forms;

6. Terebi de Nyu’usu wa Mi masuga, Dorama wa Mi masen.

(I watch news program, but don’t watch drama on TV.)

Note that “Nyu’usu o Mimasu” turned to be “Nyu’usu wa Mimasu” to make Nyu’usu the topic.

– Verb predicates in Potential form

7. Ku-ji no Nyu’usu wa Mirare masuga, Sichi-ji no Nyu’usu wa Mirare masen.

(I can watch News at 9, but can’t at 7.)

Probably this person works over hour, he/she could get to home at 8p.m. or so. Note that “Nyu’usu ga Mirare masu” turned to be “Nyu’usu wa Mirare masu” to make Nyu’usu the topic.

– Spontaneous verb that we learn at the exercise 3 is used.

8. Umi wa Mie masuga, Shima wa Mie masen.

(I can see the sea, but I can’t see any islands.)

Since English translation use “can” and “can’t”, the meaning is about potentiality. However, the verb “Mieru” is not the potential form of “Miru”, but a spontaneous verb. And the potential form of “Miru” is “Mirareru” as in the above example 7.

Today’s construction can have not only verb predicates but also other predicates.

– I-adjectives;

9. Soto wa Atsui desuga, Naka wa Suzushii desu. (It’s hot outside, but it’s cool inside.)

– Na-adjectives;

10. Anime wa Suki desuga, Eiga wa Sukidewa arimasen. (I like Animations, but don’t like Movies.)

– Nouns;

11. Watashi wa Daigakusei desuga, Satou-san wa Daigakusei dewa arimasen. (I am a university student, but Sato-san isn’t.)

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This post was written with reference to the exercise A6 on Section27 of “Minna no Nihongo (2nd Edition)” published by “3A Corporation”

Japanese Learning (A5 S10): Sentences describing “Existence” when the speaker and the listener are sharing who the subject is; [Person] wa [Place] ni Imasu.

Yesterday’s construction was like follows;

1. [Noun1] no [Subject] wa [Place] ni Arimasu.

example; Satou-san no Uchi wa Kyoto ni Arimasu. (Sato-san’s home is in Kyoto.)

Today’s construction is as follows;

2. [Person] wa [Place] ni Imasu.

example; Satou-san wa Toire no Mae ni Imasu. (Sato-san is in front of the restroom.)

1 uses “Arimasu”, but 2 uses “Imasu” for verb to describe existence. This difference came from the subjects;

– “Uchi” in 1 is a non-animal subject, therefore “Arimasu” is used.

– “Satou-san” in 2 is an animal/human subject, therefore “Imasu” is used.

I hope that you have already known well about how to choose “Arimasu”or “Imasu” when describing an existence of someone or something. Let us change our focus onto the issue of “which to use wa or ga?”

<subject + wa>

– Satou-san wa Toire no Mae ni Imasu. (Sato-san is in front of the restroom.)

<subject + ga>

– Toire no Mae ni Satou-san ga Imasu. (In front of the restroom, Sato-san is there.)

As to which to use “wa” or “ga” for the subject marker, this blog has already shown the followings;

– When the predicate is an important information, “wa” is used as subject marker.

– When the subject is an important information, “ga” is used as subject marker.

another explanation is;

– When the speaker and the listener share what the subject is, “wa” is used as subject marker.

Probably the above implies the following;

– When the subject is a new information to the listener, “ga” is used as subject marker.

Then, let me add other explanations. Maybe I need to call them not explanations but examples.

– If “ga” is used for subject in a question, use “ga” in your answer.

– If “wa” is used for subject in a question, use “wa” in your answer.

Example1 (for “ga”)

A : Toire no Mae ni Dare ga Imasuka.

B : Toire no Mae ni Satou-san ga Imasu.

Example2 (for “ga”)

A : Doko ni Satou-san ga Imasuka.

B : Toire no Mae ni Satou-san ga Imasu.

Example3 (for “wa”)

A : Satou-san wa Doko ni Imasuka.

B : Satou-san wa Toire no Mae ni Imasu.

For the issue of which to use “wa” or “ga” for the subject marker, there are still other explanations. Let me tell them later. But the basic thing is that “wa” is more broadly used as the subject marker than “ga”. So, when starting Japanese learning as a second language, “wa” should be taught first. Teaching “ga” needs to be done later than “wa”.

This post was written with reference to the exercise A5 on Section 10 of “Minna no Nihongo” published by “3A Corporation”