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Shirimono
GRAMMAR
〜は
topic marker particle
Explanation
NOTE

The particle (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. 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 ...
わたし学生がくせいです。
Watashi wa gakusei desu.
I am a student.
ねこかわいいです。
Neko wa kawaii desu.
Cats are cute.
今日きょうあついです。
Kyō wa atsui desu.
Today is hot.
NOTE

attaches to nouns and noun-like words. The comment that follows can be anything — a noun, verb, i-adjective, or na-adjective.

NOTE

When replaces another particle like or , the original particle disappears. But with location particles like , , or から, you add after them: には, では, からは.

学校がっこう日本語にほんごはなします。
At school, we speak Japanese.
では = で (location) + は (topic)
Example sentences
わたしはジョンです。
I am John.
かれ毎日まいにち新聞しんぶんみます。
He reads the newspaper every day.

Practice exercises

1
先生せんせい日本人にほんじんです。
The teacher is Japanese.
Answer
2
このほんおもしろいです。
This book is interesting.
Answer
3
みずつめたいです。
The water is cold.
Answer
4
わたし田中たなかです。
I (topic marker) am Tanaka.
Answer
5
日本語にほんごむずかしいですか。
Is Japanese (topic marker) difficult?
Answer
6
あさごはんもうべました。
Breakfast (topic marker), I already ate.
Answer
7
来週らいしゅう試験しけん簡単かんたんだとおもいます。
Next week's exam (topic marker), I think it will be easy.
Answer
8
あの映画えいが友達ともだちすすめられてました。
That movie (topic marker), a friend recommended it to me and I watched it.
Answer