- 24 May 2004
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So again back to the basics for me. Trying to understand grammar perfectly before I go any further. As for the particle "ga", apparently it used more so to pick something out of multiple possbilities.
While, the topic particle "wa" is used to state the topic, and from there it can be left out for context purposes? Right?
So, I'm confused in this example. It's very simple and is from Kim Tae's website.
アリス) これ は 何?
ボブ) それ は 鉛筆。
アリス) あれ も 鉛筆?
ボブ) あれ が ペンだ。
アリス) 図書館 は どこ?
ボブ) ここ は 図書館だ。
アリス) そこ が 図書館じゃない?
ボブ) そこじゃない。図書館 が ここだ。
The first sentence "Kore wa nani?"
"As for this, it is what?"
What would then "kore ga nani?" mean?
Would it mean, What is this?
Maybe because "this" is emphaised with "ga".
I am confused.
Maybe the reply would be instead:
Sore ga empitsu.
"That is a pencil."
(Ga emphaises the object is a pencil, out of other options. But again I am wrong.)
Why is "ga" not used? We do not know what it is, so why wouldn't "ga" be used to state instead since we do not know what "this" is? That is confusing to me.
Another example.
More obvious to me to use ga.
kare ga dare?
Who is he?
We do not know who "he" is , so we use "ga" to specify who that person is out of other people, right?
He is Jim.
Jimu ga imasu.
Or,
Jima ga da.
(using the same more casual/rude speech as above)
So, if I got it right, topic marker "wa" just marks the topic. It brings up what the topic is about so we know the context, right? While "ga" specifies something out of many possibitlies.
Maybe, "is that your book?"
"Sore ga hon wo desu ka?"
Lit. "That book is..?"
'That book, is it yours?"
We omit "your" out of context?
I am probably completely wrong.
Thanks!
While, the topic particle "wa" is used to state the topic, and from there it can be left out for context purposes? Right?
So, I'm confused in this example. It's very simple and is from Kim Tae's website.
アリス) これ は 何?
ボブ) それ は 鉛筆。
アリス) あれ も 鉛筆?
ボブ) あれ が ペンだ。
アリス) 図書館 は どこ?
ボブ) ここ は 図書館だ。
アリス) そこ が 図書館じゃない?
ボブ) そこじゃない。図書館 が ここだ。
The first sentence "Kore wa nani?"
"As for this, it is what?"
What would then "kore ga nani?" mean?
Would it mean, What is this?
Maybe because "this" is emphaised with "ga".
I am confused.
Maybe the reply would be instead:
Sore ga empitsu.
"That is a pencil."
(Ga emphaises the object is a pencil, out of other options. But again I am wrong.)
Why is "ga" not used? We do not know what it is, so why wouldn't "ga" be used to state instead since we do not know what "this" is? That is confusing to me.
Another example.
More obvious to me to use ga.
kare ga dare?
Who is he?
We do not know who "he" is , so we use "ga" to specify who that person is out of other people, right?
He is Jim.
Jimu ga imasu.
Or,
Jima ga da.
(using the same more casual/rude speech as above)
So, if I got it right, topic marker "wa" just marks the topic. It brings up what the topic is about so we know the context, right? While "ga" specifies something out of many possibitlies.
Maybe, "is that your book?"
"Sore ga hon wo desu ka?"
Lit. "That book is..?"
'That book, is it yours?"
We omit "your" out of context?
I am probably completely wrong.
Thanks!