nani ga, nani wo

[patroclus]

I get a bit confused when getting to sentences as simple as:
なに が あります か
I don't clearly see why use "ga".
Other times, I see なに を
In english, なに stands for "what", and I don't see how "what" can be subject (ga) or direct object (wo)... I understand the sentences but don't know how to make them correctly.
Thank you!

 

[Tomii515]

I'm not sure, but does the snetence mean "What exists" what are you trying to say?

 

[nice gaijin]

Try not to think of it too hard in terms of direct translation to English, or that will be a crutch when you get to more complicated grammar structures.

あります requires the particle が to mark the object that exists/is there. なにがありますか is kind of like "what is there?" and to be more specific, you could put a place marked with "ni," such as かばんになにがありますか, what is in the bag?

since nani is a question word like doko, dare, dore, dono, donna, etc, in cases like this it should be used in a question sentence. This isn't always the case, but don't worry about that for now.

を marks a verb that requires a direct object, when you use it with nani, it needs an appropriate verb.
なにをしますか what will you do?
なにをしましたか what did you do?
なにをのみましたか what did you drink?
なにをたべたいですか what do you want to eat?
なにをよんでいますか what are you reading?

 

[patroclus]

Oh, great, I get it more clear now. Thank you