は and が
- Thread starter thesuker
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- 15 Mar 2002
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は and が
That is a chair.
There is a chair.
How would you explain the difference between those two? Think about it.
(Your example sentences are going to lead down a different path than the difference between は and が. You're asking about the difference between です and あります).
That is a chair.
There is a chair.
How would you explain the difference between those two? Think about it.
(Your example sentences are going to lead down a different path than the difference between は and が. You're asking about the difference between です and あります).
thesuker
先輩
- 20 May 2014
- 242
- 3
- Thread starter
- #3
In the first you describe 'that' and in the second you assert the existence of the chair, which I think is the difference between です and あります. We use は in the first because its talking about the chair, and が in the second because the chair is the one doing the action (exist)?
- 15 Mar 2002
- 16,758
- 2,298
Depending on the context, が is also possible in the first sentence.
Now, another thought exercise...
What is the difference between:
This is a CHAIR.
THIS is a chair.
(With the caps indicating which word is verbally stressed, of course).
Now, another thought exercise...
What is the difference between:
This is a CHAIR.
THIS is a chair.
(With the caps indicating which word is verbally stressed, of course).
- 15 Mar 2002
- 16,758
- 2,298
は and が
Imagine it in a conversation:
A. What is this?
B. This is a chair.
A. Which is a chair?
B. This is a chair.
Which word did you stress in each? Now, imagine them with the wrong words stressed:
A. What is this?
B. THIS is a chair.
A. Which is a chair?
B. This is a CHAIR.
No words have changed. The word order hasn't changed. But if you only heard them, with the stress like that, you'd find them very jarring.
I bring this all up merely to illustrate that the two languages perform the same communicative task by using a very different set of tools. English uses stress markers while Japanese uses different particles.
これは何ですか？
それは椅子です。
どれが椅子ですか？
これが椅子です。
An easy way to remember the use and one that will help you MOST of the time is to remember that in alphabetical order, ga comes before ha (or wa, works both ways) and that ga usually stresses what comes before while ha usually stresses what comes afterwards.
It isn't 100% foolproof, but anything that will get you past the 50/50 random chance of picking the right one is a help.
All statements can serve as the answer to some question, even if none was asked. Sometimes it may help to ask yourself "What question would this statement be an answer to?" That will help you see what "missing" information you're providing, and thus which bit would be stressed, and which of が or は is appropriate.
Imagine it in a conversation:
A. What is this?
B. This is a chair.
A. Which is a chair?
B. This is a chair.
Which word did you stress in each? Now, imagine them with the wrong words stressed:
A. What is this?
B. THIS is a chair.
A. Which is a chair?
B. This is a CHAIR.
No words have changed. The word order hasn't changed. But if you only heard them, with the stress like that, you'd find them very jarring.
I bring this all up merely to illustrate that the two languages perform the same communicative task by using a very different set of tools. English uses stress markers while Japanese uses different particles.
これは何ですか？
それは椅子です。
どれが椅子ですか？
これが椅子です。
An easy way to remember the use and one that will help you MOST of the time is to remember that in alphabetical order, ga comes before ha (or wa, works both ways) and that ga usually stresses what comes before while ha usually stresses what comes afterwards.
It isn't 100% foolproof, but anything that will get you past the 50/50 random chance of picking the right one is a help.
All statements can serve as the answer to some question, even if none was asked. Sometimes it may help to ask yourself "What question would this statement be an answer to?" That will help you see what "missing" information you're providing, and thus which bit would be stressed, and which of が or は is appropriate.
thesuker
先輩
- 20 May 2014
- 242
- 3
- Thread starter
- #7
So, for example, if there were a bunch of pencils on a table and someone asked me which was mine, I'd say
これ が 私 の です, emphasizing that THIS is my pencil
and if there were only one pencil and someone asked whose it is, I'd say
これ は 私 の です, emphasizing that This is MY pencil
Also, when you say it works most of the time, you mean except when が or は are used for explicit stuff (i.e.contrast, certain verbs, etc)?
これ が 私 の です, emphasizing that THIS is my pencil
and if there were only one pencil and someone asked whose it is, I'd say
これ は 私 の です, emphasizing that This is MY pencil
Also, when you say it works most of the time, you mean except when が or は are used for explicit stuff (i.e.contrast, certain verbs, etc)?
- 15 Mar 2002
- 16,758
- 2,298
I would say your examples are correct, but in the case of は and が a non-native is going out on a limb pretty much every time, so take my assessment with a grain of salt.
I say it works most of the time primarily because there is always some exception or contextual factor hiding in the shadows waiting to bite us on the butt.
I say it works most of the time primarily because there is always some exception or contextual factor hiding in the shadows waiting to bite us on the butt.
Thanks a bunch Mike-san.
