が and は difference

kaiji · 29 Jan 2015

Probably it is not the first or the last this question has appeared, I Believe it is the most common problem of beginners in Japanese. Yet, I searched for reassemble explanation and I didn't find one. Actually my confusing just grew because different sources give other and sometimes even contract explanations (or is just my misunderstood).

Toritoribe · 29 Jan 2015

What do you know about the difference so far? Do you have any textbooks?

kaiji · 29 Jan 2015

As far as I could understand, [が] is used for emphasizing the part comes before it while [は] does the opposite and/or introduce the topic of the sentence. I don't have any textbook yet, I learn from tea kim guide.

killerinsidee · 29 Jan 2015

kaiji said:
As far as I could understand, [が] is used for emphasizing the part comes before it while [は] does the opposite and/or introduce the topic of the sentence.

While that is true, there's a lot more to it than that. I don't think tae kim's guide goes into detail about it. If you want to know a bit more, you can find it in Amazon.com: A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar (9784789004541): Seiichi Makino, Michio Tsutsui: Books There's considerably more in there. I think it's more than enough information, for a while at least (assuming you're a beginner). Later on you can always check some native sources for more in-depth information, or just get a feel for it with continuous exposure.

Mike Cash · 30 Jan 2015

That's a good reference book but a reference book is no substitute for a proper textbook.

killerinsidee · 30 Jan 2015

Mike Cash said:
That's a good reference book but a reference book is no substitute for a proper textbook.

I agree, but I don't think any beginner/intermediate textbooks go into much detail when it comes to "は vs が". At least I can't think of any.
To be fair, he's at least using tae kim's guide, which is almost like a textbook.

Mike Cash · 30 Jan 2015

killerinsidee said:
I agree, but I don't think any beginner/intermediate textbooks go into much detail when it comes to "は vs が". At least I can't think of any.
To be fair, he's at least using tae kim's guide, which is almost like a textbook.

Calling that eduturd a textbook sullies the good name of pedagogy. Name me one legitimate educational institution that uses it.

There is no point in a beginner's textbook going overly into detail regarding は/が when the learner has little to no exposure to nor experience with the language yet. The answer to digesting some things is taking smaller bites over a longer period of time, not prying the jaws open with a crowbar and shoveling it in with a coal scoop.

kaiji · 30 Jan 2015

I think I am starting to get it.
I need your help to determine if my examples are true:
ネコがかわいいは誰？Means who think cats are cute?
クモが怖いは誰？Means who is afraid from spiders?

One more example. If I say something like: 「私のイヌは好きです」is introducing of my dog, however 「私のイヌがすきです」 is answer to the question "what do you like?"

killerinsidee · 30 Jan 2015

Mike Cash said:
There is no point in a beginner's textbook going overly into detail regarding は/が when the learner has little to no exposure to nor experience with the language yet. The answer to digesting some things is taking smaller bites over a longer period of time, not prying the jaws open with a crowbar and shoveling it in with a coal scoop.

I agree with you, but I simply suggested him DBJG if he really wants to know the difference like now. I didn't suggest a textbook for this because he won't find much about it in there. Does he really need or should know all about it so early in his studies is a different matter.

Mike Cash · 30 Jan 2015

killerinsidee said:
I agree with you, but I simply suggested him DBJG if he really wants to know the difference like now. I didn't suggest a textbook for this because he won't find much about it in there. Does he really need or should know all about it so early in his studies is a different matter.

That whole series is worth having. I just recently purchased the advanced one (just recently found out it had finally been published!).

Toritoribe · 31 Jan 2015

kaiji said:
I need your help to determine if my examples are true:
ネコがかわいいは誰？Means who think cats are cute?
クモが怖いは誰？Means who is afraid from spiders?

ネコが/をかわいいと思っているのは誰（ですか）？
クモを怖がっているのは誰（ですか）？

kaiji said:
One more example. If I say something like: 「私のイヌは好きです」is introducing of my dog, however 「私のイヌがすきです」 is answer to the question "what do you like?"

The former is more likely an answer to 犬は好きですか Do you like dogs?, implying "I don't like other dogs", and the latter is an answer to Which dog do you like better, your dog or another one? or Which dog likes it better, your dog or another one?

kaiji · 31 Jan 2015

Toritoribe said:
ネコが/をかわいいと思っているのは誰（ですか）？
クモを怖がっているのは誰（ですか）？

The former is more likely an answer to 犬は好きですか Do you like dogs?, implying "I don't like other dogs", and the latter is an answer to Which dog do you like better, your dog or another one? or Which dog likes it better, your dog or another one?

If I say 「これはペンが欲しいです」means "I want this specific pen" and to say 「私はペンが欲しいです」means "I want a pen" (not necessarily specific pen).

killerinsidee · 1 Feb 2015

kaiji said:
If I say 「これはペンが欲しいです」means "I want this specific pen" and to say 「私はペンが欲しいです」means "I want a pen" (not necessarily specific pen).

「これはペンが欲しいです」- that sentence doesn't mean "I want this specific pen". I don't think it makes much sense since it means lit. "As for this, wants a pen.", i.e., you're presenting これ as a topic and talking about what これ wants, which is odd. Maybe you wanted to say 「このペンがほしい」?
「私はペンが欲しいです」is just a normal statement.

が and は difference

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