がSubject marker / identifier
が marks the subject or the thing you identify. It’s common when you answer: “WHO/WHAT is it?” It also appears with existence (あります/います) and when describing what is happening (e.g., あめが ふっています). If は sets the topic, が often marks the focus/new information inside the sentence.
Key points
Quick reminders for how to use it.
- Use が to identify the subject/focus: “X is the one (that…)”.
- Common with questions: だれが / なにが (who/what).
- Use が with あります/います to mark what exists.
- Often appears in patterns like: 〜は 〜が すきです (topic + focus).
Patterns
Common structures you’ll see.
だれが 〜ですか。
dare ga ~ desu ka?
Who is ~?
Note: Use が to ask about the subject/focus.
なにが 〜ですか。
nani ga ~ desu ka?
What is ~?
〜が あります。／〜が います。
~ ga arimasu. / ~ ga imasu.
~ exists (inanimate) / ~ exists (animate).
〜は 〜が すきです。
~ wa ~ ga suki desu.
As for ~, (I) like ~.
Note: が marks the thing you like (focus).
あめが ふっています。
ame ga futteimasu.
It’s raining.
Note: が marks what is happening (rain).
Common mistakes
Watch out for these.
- ×Replacing が with は in answers to “who/what?” (it can change the focus).
- ×Forgetting が with あります/います (often needed to mark what exists).
- ×Overusing が everywhere; sometimes は is better when setting topic or contrast.
Examples
Real sentences with notes.
ここに えきが あります。
koko ni eki ga arimasu.
There is a station here.
👉 が marks what exists (えき). に marks location of existence.
にわに ねこが います。
niwa ni neko ga imasu.
There is a cat in the yard.
👉 います: living thing. が marks the cat (what exists).
だれが きますか。
dare ga kimasu ka?
Who is coming?
👉 Question word + が asks for the subject.
なにが すきですか。
nani ga suki desu ka?
What do you like?
👉 が marks the thing you like (focus).
わたしは パンが すきです。
watashi wa pan ga suki desu.
I like bread.
👉 Topic: わたしは. Focus/liked thing: パンが.
きょうは あめが ふっています。
kyou wa ame ga futteimasu.
Today, it’s raining.
👉 Topic: today. New info: rain is falling (あめが).
あのひとが たなかさんです。
ano hito ga tanaka-san desu.
That person is Tanaka.
👉 Identification: “That person (and not someone else) is Tanaka.”
Compare with
Related particles to review next.