
GRAMMAR
〜は
topic marker particle
Explanation
NOTE
The particle は (pronounced wa, not ha) marks the topic of a sentence — the thing you are talking about. It tells the listener: as for X, here is what I want to say about it.
NOTE
The topic is not always the grammatical subject. は simply sets the frame for the rest of the sentence. Think of it as shining a spotlight on one thing before making a comment about it.
STRUCTURE
... は ...
私は学生です。
Watashi wa gakusei desu.
I am a student.
猫はかわいいです。
Neko wa kawaii desu.
Cats are cute.
今日は暑いです。
Kyō wa atsui desu.
Today is hot.
NOTE
は attaches to nouns and noun-like words. The comment that follows can be anything — a noun, verb, i-adjective, or na-adjective.
NOTE
When は replaces another particle like が or を, the original particle disappears. But with location particles like に, で, or から, you add は after them: には, では, からは.
学校では日本語を話します。
At school, we speak Japanese.
では = で (location) + は (topic)
Example sentences
私はジョンです。
I am John.
彼は毎日、新聞を読みます。
He reads the newspaper every day.
Practice exercises
1
先生は日本人です。
The teacher is Japanese.
Answer
は
2
この本はおもしろいです。
This book is interesting.
Answer
は
3
水は冷たいです。
The water is cold.
Answer
は
4
私は田中です。
I (topic marker) am Tanaka.
Answer
は
5
日本語は難しいですか。
Is Japanese (topic marker) difficult?
Answer
は
6
朝ごはんはもう食べました。
Breakfast (topic marker), I already ate.
Answer
は
7
来週の試験は簡単だと思います。
Next week's exam (topic marker), I think it will be easy.
Answer
は
8
あの映画は友達に勧められて見ました。
That movie (topic marker), a friend recommended it to me and I watched it.
Answer
は