Lesson 4 The Japanese particles

Lesson 4 The Japanese particles

by Rose Yocogco

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​Japanese particles play an important role in a Japanese sentence. Without a particle a Japanese sentence will not be in its complete form and meaning. Each particle has its own place in a Japanese sentence

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​A.wa- a particle placed after subject pronoun.

​Watashi + wa I

​Anata + wa You

​Kare + wa He

​Kanojo + wa She

​Karera + wa They

​Watashi tachi wa We

​wa - also placed after nouns to make it the TOPIC of the sentence.

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​ga-describes the condition of the topic of the sentence,placed before adjective.

​Gakko ga chikai desu.

​School is near.

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​chikai- near ADJECTIVE

Multiple Choice

Choose the Japanese adjective in the sentence.

Shiken ga muzukashii desu.

The exam is difficult.

• Shiken

• ga

• muzukashii

• desu.

Multiple Choice

Choose the Japanese adjective in the sentence.

Hamba-ga ga oishii desu.

The hamburger is delicious.

• Hamba-ga

• ga

• oishii

• desu.

Multiple Choice

Choose the Japanese adjective in the sentence.

Tokoro ga toi desu ka.

Is the place far ?

• Tokoro

• ga

• toi

• desu

• ka

Multiple Choice

Choose the Japanese adjective in the sentence.

Heya ga semai desu.

The room is small.

• Heya

• ga

• semai

• desu.

Multiple Choice

Choose the Japanese adjective in the sentence.

Ki ga takai desu.

The trees are tall.

• Ki

• ga

• takai

• desu.

​ga-also means BUT

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​o-a particle added before nouns to express respect.

​o kane-money

​o gohan-cooked rice

​o cha-Japanese tea

​o hashi-chopsticks

​o tomodachi-friend

​o mizu-water

​o bento-packed lunch

​o niisan-older brother

​o/wo - is placed after the direct object of a sentence. Answer the question what or whom after the english verb. Placed before the Japanese verb.

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​ka-a particle that represents a question mark.Placed at the end of a sentence.

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​ne-a particle placed at the end of the sentence which means don`t you think so, isn`t it,isn`t he/she,aren`t you/they,expresses agreement with the person talking to.

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​Title or suffix

​kun-a title added to given name, nickname,or family name of young boys.

​e.g.Ken kun,Paolo kun

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​chan-a title added to given name,nickname or family name of young girls.

​e.g. Yumi chan,Saito chan

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​san- a title added to nickname,first name, or family name of adults

​e.g. Marie San (Miss marie)、Hikari san(Miss Hikari)

​ -also added to job,work or profession to express respect.

​ e.g. doctor - isha san

​ mechanic- kikaiko san

​ nurse-kangofu san

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​san-also added to establishments to indicate respect.

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​e.g. drugstore-kusuriya san

​ bakeshop/bakery-panya san

​ meatshop-nikuya san

​ fruitstore- kudamonoya san

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​ sama- added to names to express respect.

​e.g. Hon. Aquino- Akino sama

​ Hon. Roxas- Rohasu sama

​ Hon.Enriquez- Enrikezu sama

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​san-also added to establishments to indicate respect.

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​e.g. drugstore-kusuriya san

​ bakeshop/bakery-panya san

​ meatshop-nikuya san

​ fruitstore- kudamonoya san

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​ sama- added to names to express respect.

​e.g. Hon. Aquino- Akino sama

​ Hon. Roxas- Rohasu sama

​ Hon.Enriquez- Enrikezu sama

​Exercise

​Place the appropriate particle in each sentence

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​wa,ga,o/wo,ka or ne.